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Showing posts from August, 2006

Psychological Storm Surges- Managing emotional damage from natural disasters by Dwight Bain, LMHC

Consider that everyone has a capacity for how much stress they can handle in a crisis, (think of it like a balloon inside), and that every major change builds up more internal pressure. So how long can an average person go without "popping" emotionally after a natural disaster like a hurricane, tornado or earthquake? What about a person who is more fragile and susceptible to traumatic stress like an elderly adult or a very young child? It is likely that we are going to see people experiencing an unusual kind of emotional condition after Hurricane Katrina that I call a "Psychological Storm Surge." This is an emotional reaction which in some ways is similar to the actual storm surge that occurs when a hurricane makes landfall and slams into the coastline with a wall of cold sea water, sometimes over twenty feet high. Two Types of Damaging Storm Surge The difference between the two types of storm surge is significant because the damage to life and property when the

72 HOUR EMERGENCY KITS Written by: WILLIAM D. PERKINS, BOARD OF DIRECTORS TACDA

A FAMILY 72 HOUR KIT WILL SERVE YOU WELL IN ALMOST ANY TYPE OF DISASTER. THERE ARE MANY PLACES YOU CAN FIND A LIST OF WHAT YOU NEED TO BUILD YOUR OWN 72 HOUR KIT. YOU MAY ALSO PURCHASE A KIT FROM A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT VENDORS. THE RED CROSS AND THE HOMELAND SECURITY WEB SITES HAVE SUGGESTIONS FOR WHAT TO PUT IN YOUR KIT. I USED THESE AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF OTHER SOURCES TO BUILD MY KIT. REMEMBER, EVERY FAMILY WILL HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS. I RECOMMEND A SMALL KIT FOR EACH CAR, AND A LARGER HOME KIT. THE HOME KIT SHOULD BE IN A DUFFEL BAG OR BACK PAK. IF EVACUATION IS NECESSARY YOU CAN TOSS IT IN YOUR CAR AND EVACUATE QUICKLY. ( in some cases minutes can make the difference) AUTOMOBILE KIT: 3 DAY FOOD BARS(type that are coast guard approved) BOTTLE WATER - FIRST AID KIT – FLASHLIGHT – EXTRA BATTERIES – MAPS – GLOVES – PONCHO – SPACE BLANKETS – TOOL KIT – WHISTLE – KNIFE

BABY BLUES OR SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS by Linda Riley, LMFT

Many new mothers feel sad and tearful after childbirth. Because this is so common (80-90%) we call it the Baby Blues. It usually is considered a normal reaction to hormonal changes and the stress of adjusting to motherhood. The symptoms are rather mild and typically last for only a few days to a week and are usually gone after a couple of weeks. However, it is important not to confuse the Baby Blues with a more serious condition called Post Partum Depression. This is a type of Major Depression that affects about one in ten women sometime within the first year following childbirth. Having a baby is considered by society to be a wonderful experience and it is often over idealized considering the number of women who experience low mood and emotional liability. This over-idealization can promote unrealistic expectations that result in disappointment. Many times a new mother feels inadequate and doesn’t have a supportive husband and family. It can be difficult adjusting to all of the c

HOW TO TALK TO CHILDREN ABOUT DIVORCE by Linda Riley, LMFT

1. Explain to them you are getting a divorce and will no longer be living together. 2. Let them know you both will continue being their parents. 3. Tell them it isn’t their fault and they didn’t cause it. 4. Assure them that you both still love them 5. Explain the custody arrangements (where they will live) 6. Allow them to have a full relationship with both parents 7. Make sure they realize they are not losing a parent 8. Keep them out of the middle of the conflict. 9. Don’t make them choose sides 10. Avoid letting them experience much of the conflict 11. Talk to them about the divorce and the realistic changes it will bring into their lives. 12. Encourage them to talk and ask questions. For more tools & resources on Children & Divorce Contact: The LifeWorks Group, Inc. 1850 Lee Rd. Suite 250, Winter Park, FL 32789 407-647-7005, www.lifeworksgroup.org

We’ll Never Divorce You, By Hanoch and Meladee McCarty

“What the heart knows today the head will understand tomorrow.” —James Stephens Dear Grandchild: Grandma and Grandpa know that you’re hurting right now because Mommy and Daddy are breaking up. It’s called “divorce” and you probably know some other children who have gone through this, too. It happens a lot, more than anyone would like, but we want you to know that you’re not alone. When you’re at school, ask around, and you’re sure to find lots of other kids who have been through what you’re going through. And they are surviving. You’ll survive, too, although Grandma and Grandpa know that you probably don’t feel that way right now. It’s no fun at all, is it? Just a little while ago, things looked fine, everything seemed to be just right, and now everything seems to have fallen apart. We really wish we could somehow ‘kiss all the boo-boos’ and make everything right, but, sadly, Honey, we can’t. We want you to know that this time is difficult for us too. It makes us very sad to se

The Divorced Dad’s Burden by Gail Sheehy

The cliché is the Deadbeat Dad. The newer reality is the deadbolted Dad-locked out of his children’s hearts after divorce. It isn’t happy Father’s Day when dad has to return his progeny by 6 P.M. on Sunday, like rented videos, knowing that his next chance for “take out fathering” won’t be for two weeks. Most of us still assume that divorced dads come in only one variety- those who walk out, ignore their children and balk at paying child support orders- and more than a million women can attest to this painful reality. But for many men, the situation is just the opposite. Close to four million divorced fathers in the United States do pay child support. In many cases, these are men who have fought for joint or full custody, and lost. Even when they demand more time with their children, they find that little attention is paid to enforcing or honoring their visitation rights. On a recent cross-country book tour I was struck by the numerous stories I heard from such men-post patriarchal