Crisis Center

How societies and individuals deal with disaster

by John A. Call

Managing Anxiety About Swine Flu

In previous posts I've talked a lot about preparing for disasters, building resilience, developing a survival attitude, etc. Well now, with the developing swine flu crisis upon us it's time to put all that into practice. The American Psychological Association recently put out a brief statement regarding how to manage your anxiety about swine flu. You can find that discussion here. Read More

PTSD in the Military: An Interview of a Military Wife

As ever-increasing numbers of soldiers are being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the need to understand this complex and troubling experience grows larger. In order to better understand what soldiers are going through, I interviewed the wife of a veteran who was diagnosed with PTSD. Read More

Holiday Stress: How to Manage It

The holidays are a great time to relax and spend time with family and friends, but many people find themselves being stressed out during this time. Read More

How to Become a Happier Person: Is There a Way?

Happiness: everyone wants it and most people can't get enough of it. Is there a way to become happier than you are now? Some research indicates that the saying "Think happy thoughts" is the way to go if you are looking for a way to increase your level of happiness. Read More

The Truth About Depression

Depression is a disorder in which a person has thoughts of extreme sadness, hopelessness, and/or despair, and these feelings usually interfere with daily life, such as working, eating, or sleeping. These symptoms must persist for at least two weeks to meet the diagnosis for depression. The causes of depression are varied and range from negative life events to biological factors. Read More

Posttraumatic Disorder--Temporary or Permanent?

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that may develop after a person is exposed to a traumatic event, such as an assault, rape, car accident, terrorist attack, natural disaster, or military combat. These are the most common situations that lead to PTSD, but any life-threatening situation can lead to the disorder as well. Read More

Multitasking--Efficient or a Waste of Time?

We've all done it. Making breakfast while checking email. Paying bills while having a serious conversation with your significant other. And the most infamous one: driving while talking on a cell phone. It saves time, right? Getting two things done at once is better than just getting one thing done. Or is it? Read More

Common Reactions to Disasters and Ways to Cope with Them

On September 1, Labor Day, as a member of the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps, I spent the day working with about 2,000 Louisianans who had just been bused to Oklahoma City to shelter from Hurricane Gustav. They were sheltering in a huge unused warehouse-the Lucent Technology Center in southwest Oklahoma City. By far the majority of our "guests" were a stalwart group. Read More

What to Do Immediately After a Disaster

The topic of disasters is not one people like to think about, but we all need to be prepared to deal with the aftermath of a disaster if ever caught in that situation. There are several things you can do to help restore peace to yourself and your family immediately after a disaster. First and foremost, deal with any physical injuries you or your loved ones may have. Read More

The Role of a Psychologist at a Disaster Site

When a disaster happens, disaster sites are set up to assist people with their immediate needs. Psychologists go to these sites to assist people with their emotional needs-to provide Psychological First Aid. They provide help by talking to people and answering questions they may have about their situation. They may also help people understand their emotions and reassure them that their emotions are normal. Specifically, what do psychologists do when they offer support at a disaster site? Here are a few duties they may fulfill:

In this crazy world of fast food, fast driving, and fast living, people are constantly looking for ways to decrease their stress level. Tools such as relaxation training, exercise, yoga, and therapy have all been proven to help people reduce stress. But there's another way to beat stress, and it may be as easy as obtaining a pencil, a pad of paper, and 30 minutes of free time. Read More

Coming Home From War

Returning to "normal life" after being in a war zone is seen by too many as a quick and painless transition. In reality coming home can be quite difficult for those experiencing it. Read More

The Anatomy of Fear

Fear is an emotion we all experience at one time or another, and its effects are important to understand when talking about disasters. Read More

Resolve to Be Ready

Research suggests that about one-half of us will experience, in our life time, an event so traumatic, so disastrous, that it will meet criteria A for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Knowing that fact, then why is it that most of us do not prepare for disasters? Read More

Developing the Survival Attitude: Part 3 of 3

Parts 1 and 2 of this post gave several helpful tips on how to think in a disaster situation. This part reviews two important topics: understanding how disasters happen and how your behavior affects disaster situations. Here are a few tips for acting productively in a disaster. Read More

Developing the Survival Attitude: Part 2 of 3

Part 1 of this blog gave several ideas on how your way of thinking can work for you in a disaster situation. This part will continue with more tips on perfecting your "survival attitude." Read More

Developing the Survival Attitude: Part 1 of 3

A person's attitude has a lot to do with his or her chances of survival in a disaster. Here are some tips for productive ways of thinking that can assist you when disaster strikes. Read More

Resilience in the Face of Rough Times

Resilience is someting that most people need to make it through the rougher times of life. Read More

Children and Disasters

Disasters are upsetting for everyone, but particularly for children. Probably one of the most important factors in determining how a child adapts to a disaster relates to how the child's parent or other caregiver responds. Let's take a look at some ways children react to disasters and discuss some suggestions on what we, as parents, can do to help. Read More