Essay Example on Natural & Human-Made Disasters: Causes & Effects

Disasters can be in two categories, human made and those that are natural. Some of the natural disasters that the world experience today include earthquakes, hurricanes, and landslides. Human made may entail oil spillages, fire, and mass shootings, among others. In the world, today, people are trapped in disasters causing them not only physical harm but also psychological damage. Accidents can take an emotional toll on the people trapped or those that are indirectly affected. People react to emergencies in different ways, for instance, having intense fear, difficulty in concentration, developing insomnia, poor eating habits, being forgetful, and aggressive. Despite the mild to fatal effects, it is possible for people to recover from any form of disaster. The most important thing that needs to be done is enrolling them in the psychological center to get counseling and various therapies that will help them recover from trauma. It is, therefore, essential to understand the relationship between disaster and the psychological effects on people. The paper will, therefore, discuss the psychological effects of the disaster, the effects of disability brought by the disaster, explore the treatments available for PTSD, it will also look at the impact of social stigma, examine how different age groups react to trauma and disaster preparedness in special populations.

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Psychological effects of disaster become greatest when the affected people are already having social distress such as stigma and any form of discrimination. When socially troubled people are hit by a catastrophe either directly or indirectly, they are likely to be affected more than that those who are not in the same scenario. For instance, a person who is going through stigma because of an illness is likely to be psychologically affected than a person who has not been stigmatized. Makwana (2019) explains that people already suffering from socio-economic damage face severe psychological effects of disaster because of their preexisting situation. The author further explains that people tend to more weaken by the catastrophe and causing more damage.

Additionally, the psychological effects of the disaster are more likely to be greatest when there is an economic hardship either in the nation or among the people hit by a catastrophe. Economic challenges give people psychological disturbance, primarily when they cannot cater to their needs as well as those of dependents, and when disaster strikes, their state is worsened because more financial resources are needed for treatment, among other requirements (Makwana 2019). In some cases, the victims of disaster are maimed, and they can no longer be economically productive, therefore taking and an emotional toll on them because they become more strained financially.

Similarly, the psychological effects of disaster become intense when children, women, and older adults are involved. After any accident has taken place either affecting them directly or indirectly, they become more vulnerable because they need more attention and care as their immune systems are weak. The psychological effects they experience are worsened because they cannot easily cope up compared to other populations.

There are several factors that mediate psychological response to trauma, and one of the elements is the ability to cope with the disaster. When a person is able to absorb shock and cope easily easily, then there will be less psychological trauma experienced. On the other hand, when they are weak in their response, then injury takes an emotional toll on them. Additionally, when proper care and help are given, then people are less likely to encounter more trauma. After a disaster has happened, it is essential that the affected get counseling and other psychological help for them to recover quickly from shock and reduce the chances of experiencing trauma. To help people from sinking into traumatic situations, then they should receive medical care, which involves psychological therapy.

After disaster ensues, people suffer a loss that can be in terms of property, life, or both. As a result, they grief because of the damage they encounter, and this can take months or a lifetime. Loss and grief are inseparable terms as one result to another (East 2016). When people lose their loved ones or property, they go through the pain, and they need to help to cope with such losses to minimize grief. When people grief their healthy life is affected as most of them sink into worries of uncertainty. Loss and grief are characterized by aggression, which makes people be angry at those around them (East 2016). Some can also be angry at themselves because of failure to do certain things or regretting doing them.

Besides, loss and grief result in distress and emptiness, especially when people encounter loss resulting from the death. They go through moments of disbelief and the feeling of a gap that can be filled. People can also plunge into depression, making them draw form the activities they loved doing people (East 2016). Others can also develop new habits such as poor feeding, too much sleeping, among others. Another consequence is that people establish immense fear and worry about another disaster occurring and causing similar loss.

There is a significant impact on first responders, and most of them suffer trauma because of encountering first-hand situations of victims in the disaster. The psychological functioning of first responders is usually hampered because they are likely to develop vicarious trauma. One of the effects on mental functioning is that they can develop anxiety resulting from injury they saw in their victims (Catherall 2013). They may also extend long periods of grief in case the victims die or are found dead after the disaster. Also, first responders tend to develop symptoms of isolation where they withdraw from interacting with other people such that their social life is affected. Some of them even improve increased consumption of alcohol in a bid to forget their experiences (Catherall 2013). There are six stages that victims go through, according to Catherall. The Catherall six stages are discussed below.

The first stage is the pre-trauma, and this refers to the state at which the victim was before the occurrence of a disaster. It entails details about the victim's socialization background. It also requires the personality of the person before going through trauma (Catherall 2013). It explores the dynamics of their preexisting relations with others. The second stage is the trauma event for the primary victim and learning of the disaster by the secondary victim. When people are caught up in an accident, they experience trauma while the secondary victims encounter it through being Aware of the occurrence (Catherall 2013). For secondary victims, awareness and acceptance can take a long period of time. The stage can create an emotional burden of what to be done with the present life or uncertainty of the future. It is then followed by crisis/ disorientation, which third and marked by a situation of denial, disbelieve, and disorganization. The victim is emotionally disturbed and having difficulty comprehending what has happened to them or their love ones. The fourth stage is the outward adjustment, and this entails the victims trying to find ways to cope up (Catherall 2013). Both the primary and secondary victims look for old ways either in person or interpersonal level that help them slowly adjust to the situation. Catherall's fifth stage is reorganization, which entails integrating changes that improve the victims cope up with the aftermath of the disaster and the damage caused. There is a need for the involvement of a clinical expert, such as a doctor or counselor. The final stage is integration and resolutions, and this involves a step where healing begins to be experienced (Catherall 2013). It is when the victims have properly managed intra-psychic as well as relationship dynamics.

In helping victims to regain a proper psychological function, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is ideal. It is a psychotherapeutic cure that helps the patients recognize thoughts and feelings that impact behavior (Zettle & Hayes 2015). CBT is used in treating a myriad of psychological disorders and changes. PTSD is one of the problems that both secondary and primary victims encounter, and the therapy can be ideal in helping the patients overcome the problem. The fundamental concept in CBT is that a person's thoughts and feelings play a critical role in shaping their behavior (Zettle & Hayes 2015). For instance, a person who regularly thinks about plane crashes might find themselves avoiding air travel. In order to combat PTSD, the therapist begin by assisting the patient in identifying the problematic thoughts or beliefs, and this stage is referred to as functional analysis. Although the process can be challenging, it leads to self-recovery (Zettle & Hayes 2015). The next step is focusing on the real issues contributing to the problem and helps the victim learn new ways of avoiding the situation facing them. For instance, if it is anxiety, they are advised on ways of giving them engaged and giving them assurance and hope. Finally, they begin to practice conversations with friends as a way of sharing to heal. There are various types of CBT, and they include rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT), cognitive therapy, multimodal therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy (Zettle & Hayes 2015). It has been proved to be an effective method for patients who have PTSD other psychological disorders; for instance, it was highly useful for victims in hurricane Katrina.

Stigma is a profound issue facing several people who have diverse problems ranging from PTSD to those who have different kinds of disabilities. As a result, there is a need to ensure that social stigma is reduced and treatment-seeking behavior is sought (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 2016). One of the ways through which social support counter stigma is through intensive education in communities so that people are aware of the importance of embracing the affected and supporting the road to recovery and for instance educating people on the effects of PTSD and the ways through which to help the affected instead of stigmatizing them (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 2016). Additionally, psychological health literacy campaigns should be established to sensitize people on the importance of supporting people with the mental illness to recover. For instance, it can be done in schools, colleges, and community meetings. Besides, people should be taught on the need to keep contact instead of the affected instead of social distancing as this will help people to develop trust, feeling of belonging, and eventually healing (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 2016). Also, the use of peer services can be critical in helping people to recover from psychological disorders. Furthermore, protest and advocacy can also be vital in ensuring that civil rights for the psychologically ill are upheld.

Conclusion

Children process trauma differently than adults, although both can encounter devastating effects. Children are likely to process trauma poorly and end up having a severe emotional impact because their brains and personalities are still developing, and their coping mechanisms are low as compared to adults (Stanford children's health 2018). It is important to note that every child has a concept of death. They may have seen it on cartoons, TV shows, as well as movies and they, may have experienced it form a family member or friend. During the developmental stage of being a baby, they do not have a concept of death and may not show any response to it,...