The aftereffects of hurricanes

• By EMILY KERN HEBERT
• Advocate staff writer
• Published: Oct 3, 2008 - Page: 1E - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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The initial trauma is different, but whether it’s the sights, sounds and smells of war or the whipping winds, heavy rain and splitting trees associated with a hurricane, any life-threatening situation can lead to posttraumatic stress.

Posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is diagnosed by a mental health professional when symptoms of intense fear, helplessness and horror continue well after the trauma.

“Most people who go through disasters like (hurricanes) Katrina and Gustav, it never reaches the level of PTSD,” said Daphne Cain, associate professor in the LSU School of Social Work.

Such symptoms as grief, anger and fatigue are normal, Cain said.

But, in some cases, survivors of natural disasters experience intense flashbacks, nightmares and other symptoms months later as they try to put their lives back together, she said.

“That’s when seeing a mental health professional is extremely helpful,” Cain said.

The primary symptom of PTSD is having recurring, intrusive recollections of the event, Cain said.

In the case of hurricanes, she said, anything that reminds you of the storm, whether it’s the howling wind, rain or thunder, can trigger memories of life-threatening danger.

“They feel like their life is being threatened constantly,” Cain said. “You counter those irrational thoughts (in therapy).”

Insomnia is another major symptom, she said.

“You don’t want to sleep because you’re dreaming about the events that occurred,” Cain said.

Some physical symptoms include heart palpitations, sweating, racing thoughts, hyperventilation, stomach pains, and tension in the neck and shoulders.

The acronym PTSD is used very loosely today to mean any anxiety symptoms, and that’s not what it means, Cain said.