Mental Health Professionals Offer Tips on Managing Evacuation Anxiety, Recognizing the Stressfulness of the Situation | Breaking:

Thousands of British Columbians have now faced being ordered to leave their homes immediately, whether due to bushfires, floods or another threat. The climate crisis does not seem to be abating, which means that many more may find themselves in that situation in the years to come.

And when someone knocks on your door and tells you to leave immediately, it can create some pretty intense anxiety.

Bonnie Fehr and her husband were ordered to vacate their property about an hour from Burns Lake, BC, on July 9 as a wildfire approached. She said that at the time, her mental health was “not good.”

“You don’t sleep. That’s the most important thing.”

Kelowna, BC-based registered psychologist Dr. Kathy Keating says it’s completely normal and expected for anyone in that situation to feel acute stress.

Many will notice physical symptoms, such as trouble sleeping, increased heart rate and upset stomach, among other things, he said.

But again, those reactions are normal, emphasizes Prince George’s counselor Jenny DeReis.

“That will generally last a couple of days, and it tends to subside by two weeks,” he said.

If your anxiety persists beyond a couple of weeks, DeReis said, it may be time to consider seeking professional help.

However, there are tools to help minimize the impact of that acute stress before you need to seek advice.

plan ahead

Keating said one of the most important things people can do to protect themselves from the stress and anxiety that comes with evacuations is to plan ahead.

“If you’ve lived in British Columbia for any time, sadly you know this could be a reality,” he said.

Making sure a travel bag is stocked with essentials and ready-to-go documents and important items will ease some of the stress when you’re leaving on short notice.

The province has developed a List of articles that should be included in an emergency bag, including phone chargers, medicines and water.

However, Keating says that even if you are prepared for an evacuation, the anxiety will still exist.

“It just means you’ll be a little more prepared and you won’t have to think about those things at the time. When we’re anxious, our cognitive abilities aren’t as sharp, they’re not supposed to be. Your body is focused on just surviving in that situation. “.

Personal care

While self-care may seem like a buzzword, DeReis says there’s no better time to indulge in such practices than when you’re under acute stress.

“Once you’ve had that fight or flight response and then you recover, you can be quite exhausted mentally and physically.”

It suggests spending time with loved ones, taking a walk, meditating, or playing sports.

In particular, he said, guided meditations that focus on progressive muscle relaxation can bring your mind back to the present moment.

establish a routine

Maintaining some sort of routine can be challenging when you’re away from home and familiar surroundings, but it’s key to managing stress, Keating said.

That includes eating the right foods, having a sleep routine, and exercising.

“Will it look exactly like when you’re home and comfortable? Probably not, but that’s very, very important, particularly meals – we never do well when we don’t have adequate fuel.”

Limit information consumption

It’s hard not to want to know everything that’s going on when it comes to the well-being of your home or business during an evacuation, but being glued to the news and social media can be detrimental to your health, Keating said.

“We have so much access these days, but you don’t need to see it minute by minute.”

She suggests having a trusted source, whether it’s a friend or a specific news channel, give you the information you need to know.

Help

Keating said that for some, finding a way to contribute and help with the situation can help ease the stress during an evacuation because it’s something that can be managed.

“If there’s an opportunity for that, and you feel like you have the bandwidth to be able to do it, then that may work for some people.”