55| Write your comments | Vote |By: Charles Sophy |Type: Self Improvement | 2005-09-12 |
Title: Mommy What’s A Hurricane? Helping Your Child Cope with Natural Disaster
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A natural disaster, such as the hurricane wreaking havoc on the
shores of Florida and New Orleans, is always a difficult time for
adults and children. During this time, our primary focus is
coping with the issues, and problems that arise from them. Our
children, however, are not immune. They see most of the same
media coverage, read the newspapers, and hear the reports on the
radio.
Just as we have feelings and react, our children will do the
same. It is very important for us to be able to guide our
children through these times for it is this modeling that will
lay the foundation for them to cope now and throughout their
lives. These are real life events that are part of the
circumstances of our lives. We must deal with them and it will be
best for us as well as our children to deal with them in a
proactive informed manner.
Let's take a look at our most recent event hurricane:
Jack who is 8 has been watching his parents and various other
family members and friends stay close to the TV all weekend, as
they monitor the course of the hurricane coming from the south.
He eats lunch, and eventually dinner, hearing them talk of their
concerns and the possible impacts on everything from vacations to
damage. When he is in his for his bath he says to his mom,
"what's a hurricane?"
His mother calmly explains that it is a big rain storm with lots
of wind but there is nothing for him to worry about. Despite this
brief explanation, Jack still has questions and concerns.
After his story and a big hug and kiss from mom and dad, he heads
for his room and is tucked in for the night. A few hours later,
his parents hear a voice coming from his room. After a quiet
investigation they discover him talking in his sleep. They become
distressed – Jack hasn't talked in his sleep since he was 2 years
old. Around 3 AM they are awoken by his yelling, "No, no hold
on!" Again they explore and find him asleep.
Upon awakening in the morning his first inquiry is, "Is the
hurricane over?"
Clearly Jack's anxiety for the hurricane is quite overwhelming
for him. It is spilling over to his sleep, where the anxiety is
playing out in his inability to sleep soundly. He is aware of his
family's concerns and has noticed the increased interest in news
reports in his home.
Aware of his anxiety and his need to express his fears, his
parents incorporate him in to some of age-appropriate family
discussions and allow him to verbalize and also have him draw
some pictures of his version of the storm. They continue to
include him in their discussions over the next few days and, as
the storm approaches and passes without incident, Jack is now
sleeping in his usual manner of 11-12 solid hours/night. Here are
a few suggestions to employ for your child in a natural disaster:
1) Acknowledge: Let your children know that you have concerns
etc. Hiding them only makes children worry more.
2) Monitor: Be mindful of the amounts and types of media coverage
in your home.
3) Reassure: Support your child in a manner that is
age-appropriate, and be aware of behavioral changes.
Always ask for assistance when unsure of how to proceed.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dr. Charles Sophy currently serves as Medical Director for
the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family
Services (DCFS), which is responsible for the health, safety
and welfare of nearly 40,000 foster children. He also has a
private psychiatry practice in Beverly Hills, California.
Dr. Sophy has lectured extensively and is an Associate
Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of
California Los Angeles Neuro-Psychiatric Institute. His
lectures and teachings are consistently ranked as among the
best by those in attendance.
Dr. Charles Sophy, author of the "Keep `Em Off My Couch"
blog, provides real simple answers for solving life's
biggest problems. He specializes in improving the mental
health of children. To contact Dr. Sophy, visit his blog at
http://drsophy.com.
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) 2005 Dr. Charles Sophy
Dr. Charles Sophy currently serves as Medical Director for
the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family
Services (DCFS), which is responsible for the health, safety
and welfare of nearly 40,000 foster children. He also has a
private psychiatry practice in Beverly Hills, California.
Dr. Sophy has lectured extensively and is an Associate
Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of
California Los Angeles Neuro-Psychiatric Institute. His
lectures and teachings are consistently ranked as among the
best by those in attendance.
Dr. Charles Sophy, author of the "Keep `Em Off My Couch"
blog, provides real simple answers for solving life's
biggest problems. He specializes in improving the mental
health of children. To contact Dr. Sophy, visit his blog at
http://drsophy.com.
Author: Charles Sophy