Important: This page is general information, not medical advice. It does not recommend or prescribe any treatment. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.
About Coping with Disasters
No matter how well you have prepared, you might feel dazed or numb after going through a disaster. You may also feel sad, helpless, or anxious. In spite of the tragedy, you might just feel happy to be alive.
It is not unusual to have bad memories or dreams. You may avoid places or people that remind you of the disaster. You might have trouble sleeping, eating, or paying attention. Many people have short tempers and get angry easily. These are all normal reactions to stress.
Sometimes the stress can be too much to handle alone. Some people have long-term problems after a disaster, including:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Depression
- Self-blame
- Suicidal thoughts
- Alcohol or drug misuse
If your emotional reactions are getting in the way of your relationships, work, or other important activities, talk to a counselor or your health care provider. Treatments are available.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
It sits within Mental Health and Behavior and Disasters.
The lead U.S. institute for this subject is the National Institute of Mental Health.
When to speak to someone. Reading about a topic cannot tell you whether it applies to you. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if symptoms are severe, sudden, getting worse, or simply not going away — and seek emergency care immediately for chest pain, breathing difficulty, sudden weakness or confusion, or a serious allergic reaction.
Research on Coping with Disasters
2 studies areregistered for this condition on ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's public registry. A selection is below — the links go straight to the registry entry, not to a summary of ours.
What a registered study does and does not mean. Registration means a study exists and has been declared publicly. It says nothing about whether the treatment being tested works, is safe, or is available to you. Many studies find no benefit — that is what research is for. Never seek out an experimental treatment on the strength of a registry entry alone.
Research already completed
- Peer-led Group Intervention for Coping With DisasterBaylor College of Medicine
- Health and Wellness in Healthcare Providers Post-disasterUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Study data from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 2026-07-30. Registry entries are supplied by study sponsors and investigators; ClinicalTrials.gov does not verify their scientific validity. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH.
Where to read more
Rather than paraphrase, we point you to the primary sources. Every link below is to a government health agency, a national institute or a recognised medical body — grouped by what you are trying to find out.
Learn More
- Common Reactions After TraumaNational Center for PTSD
- Coping Tips for Traumatic Events and DisastersSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
- Disaster Distress HelplineSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
- DisasterAssistance.govDepartment of Homeland Security
- Effects of Disaster Events: Resilience and Risk FactorsNational Center for PTSD
- Emergency Preparedness and ResponseCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
- Federal Emergency Management AgencyFederal Emergency Management Agency
- Finding a New Normal: Life After a Natural Disaster (For Teens)Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Helping Children and Adolescents Cope With Traumatic EventsNational Institute of Mental Health
- How to Talk with Kids about Tragedies and Other Traumatic News EventsAmerican Academy of Pediatrics
- Managing Mental Health (After a Disaster)Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Self-Care After Disaster EventsNational Center for PTSD
Medical subject headings
Clinicians and researchers index this subject under Disasters, Adaptation, Psychological. These are the terms to use when searching medical literature.
This page is built from the MedlinePlus health topic record for Coping with Disasters, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health. Information is from MedlinePlus.gov. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH. Retrieved 30 July 2026.