Allow others to talk aout their 

experiences at home while you were away. Everyone you interact 

with regularly may need a chance to express their feelings and share their experiences with you about what it was like for them while you were away. Listening is important, even if you feel a little disconnected to what your loved ones are saying or do not know how to respond to them. 

Stay in touch with disaster relief coworkers. The people 

you worked with on disaster relief efforts understand your experiences better than anybody else. Stay in touch with them through calls or e-mails. These coworkers may be especially helpful if your family and friends don’t seem to understand what you went through. Staying in touch with coworkers will also allow you to support them if they are under stress. 

Be aware that members of the media may try to contact you. Reporters are often interested in the stories of people who have returned from disaster relief work. Make sure you know your organization’s policies about talking to the media and what, if any, clearances you need. 

Finding support Most people are able to adjust to returning home after disaster relief work, though the time required can vary greatly from person to person. If stress reactions persist, or interfere 

with your personal or work life 

following your relief assignment, it is important to seek professional help. •••

The following ongoing signs and symptoms may be an indication of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD):

 Flashbacks (e.g., recurring scenes, pictures, and conversations)  Nightmares and/or other sleep problems  Diffi culty concentrating or communicating  Feelings of anger, anxiety, sadness, depression, or crying a lot  Fear of being alone or only wanting to be alone Frightening or recurring thoughts  Feeling numb or as though you’re on “automatic pilot” 

A person experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder may experience a few or many of the above symptoms. If responses and reactions like these continue for months, or if they interfere in your daily life to any extent, it is important to seek professional help immediately. Talking with a trained professional 

can help you recover from trauma and 

feel better faster. Your employee 

assistance program (EAP) or employee

resource program can help you get the confi dential, professional assistance you need. Even if you don’t have signs of PTSD, it is important to get help if you are having trouble with your work or relationships, or if you are still feeling 

low after your disaster relief coworkers

have moved on. You might begin by talking to a professional you trust, such as your doctor or a chaplain or other clergy member. Again, your EAP or employee resource program 

can help you get professional assistance.

After returning, take some time to think about the valuable contribution you have made to many who needed your help. The American Red Cross encourages disaster workers to remember that they have given a gift 

•••••••

of themselves—their time and caring—to those who have experienced a 

catastrophe. Eventually, you may do more disaster relief work, or you may move on to completely different tasks. Either way, if you take good care of yourself and get help when you need it, you will continue to keep making 

valuable and much needed contributions

to others. 

Written with the help of Marjorie Dyan Hirsch, D.C.S.W., C.E.A.P., C.A.S.A.C., B.C.E.T.S. Ms. Hirsch is an organizational crisis managementspecialist, corporate consultant, executive coach, and trainer. Ms. Hirsch provided debriefi ngs for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) during the Oklahoma City bombing and for many major corporations after both World Trade Center crises. She is CEO of The Full Spectrum in New York City. Parts of this article were adapted from After a Disaster: Self-Care Tips for Dealing with Stress, a publication of SAMHSA’s National Mental Health Information Center, available online at www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov. NMH05-0215

Returni

Afte

 Relief 
What to expect 

Disasters are diffi cult to understand. When they occur, people often ask:

Why did this happen? This question 

can be especially unsettling for disasterrelief workers who have seen the effects and been involved with the catastrophe fi rsthand. After returning home, it mayhelp to keep in mind the following tips 

from SAMHSA’s National Mental Health Information Center on understanding the effects of a disaster: 

No one who sees a disaster is untouched by it. It is normal to feel sadness, grief, and anger about what happened and what you saw.  It is also natural to feel anxious about your safety and the safety of your family. Acknowledging your feelings will help you move forward more quickly. 

••••

 Focusing on your contributions, strengths, and abilities can help you heal if you are troubled by what you experienced.  Everyone has different needs and different ways of coping. This is normal. It is healthy to reach out for and accept help if you need it. 

Your physical and emotional health Disaster work is challenging physically,mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

You may have worked for long hours 

in areas that were overcrowded or had

poor sanitation or other health risks. You may have witnessed scenes of 

great pain and loss of human life. You

may have had to cope with shortages of basic supplies or resources that most people take for granted. All of these 

experiences may have had a cumulative

effect on your physical and emotional health that can continue after you return home. 

•••

SAMHSA’s National Mental Health Information Center recommends seeking professional help if you have any of the following ongoing symptoms upon your return home: 

Physical aches and pains Cold or fl u-like symptoms Changes in your vision or hearing  Insomnia, sleeping too little or too much Increased use of alcohol or drugs  Limited attention span or decreased concentration Poor work performance Confusion or disorientation  Reluctance to leave home or be alone  Feelings of hopelessness or helplessness Mood swings or elevated anger  Crying easily, prolonged sadness, or depression Overwhelming guilt or self-doubt

•••••••••••••

Some of the above symptoms may be signs of ongoing stress. They amay be signs of an illness or seriouphysical condition. For example, fl u-like symptoms can be a sign of meningitis, a potentially fatal diseathat can spread quickly in crowded areas such as refugee camps. Don’take chances with your health. Caa doctor if you develop unexplainephysical symptoms after returning from a place where you faced an increased risk of illness. Taking care of yourself After being away and taking care oothers, you probably will need to spend some time focusing on and taking care of yourself. 

Pay attention to your health.

Make the extra effort to get enough sleep and eat balanced meals. Keep up any other habithat you normally practice to maintain good health, such as getting regular exercise and takvitamins or medications prescrby your doctor.

Maintain normal household routines. You may fi nd househ

projects or invitations from friewaiting for you after you returnSome people need time to readbefore they jump back into theusual routines and relationshipOthers fi nd it helpful to resumtheir activities and connect wit

family and friends right away. Th

about what you need to do for 

yourself, and do what is best for ySpend time with supportive famand friends. Doing disaster 

relief work can be emotionally overwhelming and isolating. Spend time with people who wunderstand if you don’t want to talk about your experiences rigaway. Alternatively, if you do nto talk about some events, chooto be with someone you feel is to be supportive, understandinand patient. 

•••

Disaster relief work can be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help people in need of your expertise and assistance. It is a uniquely rewarding way to use the skills you have developed as a medical worker, soldier, aid worker, or trained volunteer. However, disaster relief work also can cause stress, which may not end when you complete your assignment. You can reduce this stress by taking care of yourself after your return home and by seeking help if you have trouble readjusting to your usual routine.