National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Coping with Disasters is the National Institute of Mental Health
A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine 
National Institutes of Health
Coping with Disasters
After surviving a disaster, people may feel dazed or even numb. They may also feel sad, helpless, or anxious. In spite of the tragedy, some people just feel happy to be alive.
It is not unusual to have bad memories or dreams. You may avoid places or people that remind you of the disaster. You might have trouble sleeping, eating, or paying attention. Many people have short tempers and get angry easily. These are all normal reactions to stress.
Sometimes the stress can be too much to handle alone. Some people have long-term problems after a disaster, including
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Depression
- Self-blame
- Suicidal thoughts
- Alcohol or drug abuse
If your emotional reactions are getting in the way of your relationships, work, or other important activities, talk to a counselor or your doctor. Treatments are available.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Start Here
- Coping with a Traumatic Event(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Coping with Disaster(Federal Emergency Management Agency)
The top row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Basics
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Learn More
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Multimedia & Cool Tools
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For group Basics
For group Learn More
For group Multimedia & Cool Tools
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The bottom row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Research
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Reference Shelf
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For You
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For group Research
For group Reference Shelf
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Overviews
- Recovering from Disaster(Department of Homeland Security)
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Latest News
- Weather Worries Can Threaten a Child's Mental Health(05/21/2013, HealthDay)
- Helping Children Make Sense of the Senseless(04/17/2013, HealthDay)
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Treatment
- Having Trouble Coping After a Disaster? Talk with Us(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - PDF
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Disease Management
- Managing Traumatic Stress: Tips for Recovering from Disasters and Other Traumatic Events(American Psychological Association)
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Related Issues
- Anniversary Reactions(National Center for PTSD)
- Common Reactions After Trauma(National Center for PTSD)
- Effects of Disasters: Risk and Resilience Factors(National Center for PTSD)
- Tips for Managing and Preventing Stress: A Guide for Emergency Response and Public Safety Workers(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - PDF
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Sleep problems among adolescent survivors following the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake...
- Article: Traumatic experiences and mental health consequences among child survivors of...
- Article: Emergency preparedness for people with disabilities: guide and checklist.
- Coping with Disasters -- see more articles
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Organizations
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Statistics
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Coping with Traumatic Events
(National Institute of Mental Health)
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Coping with Traumatic Events
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Children
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Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters: What Parents Can Do(National Institute of Mental Health)
- Also available in Spanish
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Helping Children Cope with Crisis: Just for Parents(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)
- Helping Your Children Manage Distress in the Aftermath of a Shooting(American Psychological Association)
- Talking to Children about Disasters(American Academy of Pediatrics)
- Talking to Children about Terrorism and War(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry)
- Also available in Spanish
- Tips for Parents and Caregivers on Media Coverage of Traumatic Events(National Child Traumatic Stress Network) - PDF
- Tips for Talking with and Helping Children and Youth Cope After a Disaster or Traumatic Event(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - PDF
- Also available in Spanish
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Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters: What Parents Can Do
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Teenagers
- Maintain a Healthy State of Mind: High School Students(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Maintain a Healthy State of Mind: Middle School Students(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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Seniors
- Maintain a Healthy State of Mind: Seniors(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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Adults
- Maintain a Healthy State of Mind: Adults(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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Languages
- Haitian Creole (Kreyol)
- Khmer (Khmer)
- Laotian (Lao)
- Spanish (español)
- Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt)
Coping with Disasters - Multiple Languages
