Rain, Rain, Go Away
Floods can make you feel isolated.
With all of the precipitation we’ve been having here in Colorado (and other places), it’s a double edged sword. If we have a lot of rain, it can bring back many feelings including fear, anger and sadness. After the recent September, 2013 deluge, are you asking yourself, “Will I be dealing with floods again?” A dear friend of mine had her basement re-flood last week. For many people, other things happened at the same time as the flood. There were many losses. It is very common to wonder if a flood is going to happen again.
The Human Impact of Flooding
If we don’t have enough rain or snow, we look at having a scary fire season like we’ve had in recent years. Some of the fires include the Four Mile Canyon Fire, Flagstaff Fire, High Park Fire, Black Forest Fire, Haymen Fire, and Waldo Canyon. And that’s just within the past few years and within a 2 hour radius of Boulder County.
It’s confusing. Do we wish for rain or for it to stop? Many people have mixed feelings.
What’s Going On With Me?
Are you feeling/having any of the following that have been triggered by the rain?
It’s OK to have these feelings.
- anger
- detached
- sad
- scared
- panic
- anxious
- irritable
- flashbacks
- sleep difficulty
- disturbing dreams.
You are not going crazy. These can be symptoms of PTSD. I was talking to a friend the other day and he was relating that he was experiencing nightmares and feelings of anxiety. These feelings were related to the recent rains we have been experiencing in Colorado. He hadn’t talked to anyone about this and, more importantly, he never dealt with these issues when the original floods occurred. Until he gets professional help to deal with his PTSD, every time we see a similar weather pattern, he is going to suffer.
6 Ways to Feel Better
There are many ways to help yourself and your loved ones feel better.
Reach out to family and friends – As humans we have the wonderful ability to share experiences and support each other through tough times. If people helped you last time, remember that sense of community.- Exercise – This helps relieve stress, even if you just go for a walk or get on the treadmill.
- Ground in the present – Fear is about the future. Right here, right now, everything is okay.
- Do things you like to do – Taking time for yourself can help refocus your attention away from all the bad news. It also releases endorphins in your brain, which helps you feel better.
- Eat well for you – Take care of yourself. While it’s easy to reach for comfort food, it only helps for a few minutes. The effect on your blood sugar and nervous system does not help with your mood.
- Seek professional help – Friends and family can be very helpful, but sometimes we need someone with specialized skills and tools to help us to break out of the cycle that is triggering the anxiety and other painful feelings.
If you want or need more help than this, call me at (303) 444-2003.
Through tools such as Brainspotting, I can help you feel better and break the symptom patterns that grab hold of you when it rains. Brainspotting is a non-verbal treatment tool that helps you reprocess past traumas. Clients who experience brainspotting are often able to eliminate the underlying sensitivities that are causing the problems.