Floods in Texas: 6 Ways to Help Children Feel Safe Again

“These were kids trying to spend the summer, and nature didn’t give them the opportunity.” – As ABC News said, Coast Guard rescue swimmer Scott Laskan

Flash floods that swept over 100 people, including dozens of children, have swept over 100 people who died Friday morning, are a Texas tragedy that anyone with access to the screen can witness from anywhere on the planet. Tolls aren’t the same for everyone and aren’t always visible right away, but we know from studies of the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy that disasters like this can suffer ever since the floods recede. It takes time to feel safe again. We often underestimate how long we are.

Prioritize relationships

As a child and adolescent psychiatrist, when I see catastrophes like Texas, I always ask what I can do to support young people and how many days, weeks, or months from now to recover. If there’s one thing we can do, it’s this: maintain, build and prioritize relationships that restore a sense of security. Children will come to believe that if the adults around them believe this, they will be fine again.

The Biology of Stress and Safety

There is a biological reason: below stress, hormone Cortisol soaks our bodies and brains. If it’s not permeated by the people we trust, it can damage our limbic system (brain) and immune system (body). But that’s not the end of the story. A relationship full of trust, safety and love creates hormones Oxytocin And oxytocin does a great job protecting us from the effects of stress and restoring our sense of safety. This is the reason trauma It’s reversible. It can feel very far now, but trauma is not destiny.

Six ways to help

The Camp Mystic Community is characterized by a powerful bond that the girl has been forged by the banks of the Guadalupe River for generations. This certainly helps surviving campers and counselors overcome sorrowloss, and fear They’re experiencing it.

If you’re looking for ways to help young people you know by being directly affected by floods or watching news about tragedy, here are six suggestions.

• Start a conversation. Listen carefully, calmly and respond honestly in an age-appropriate way. Children pick up adult emotions.
• Don’t assume you’re not worried about people talking or not. Sometimes, mere presence is comfort.
• Limit media. Reduces exposure to disastrous images of floods, reduces fear and regulates cortisol.
• Maintain the routine. Daily routines provide stability and peace of mind.
• Beware of signs of pain. Look for trouble I’m sleeping, appetite Loss or difficulty in focusing. If symptoms persist, seek support.
• Giving help to young people. What should you ask them They are Think of it as you can to help others. Participate in small actions such as letters to the first responder and consider donating to confirmed relief funds such as Kerr County Flood Relief and the American Red Cross.

At this moment, caring adults want support, stability and the need to restore safety and belief that young people will overcome this. They’ll come together.