Tips from Dr Rob Gordon
In October 2012, more than 300 people attended community forums
in Kaiapoi and Brighton to listen to Dr Rob Gordon, a visiting
Australian specialist in disaster psychology who has supported
people affected by more than 30 disasters.
One participant summed up the reaction of many when he said,
"Things make a lot more sense now. Rob Gordon tells it like it
is."
Here are some of Dr Rob's tips for coping with the on-going
effects of a disaster
- A fast recovery is not necessarily a good recovery. Pace
yourself and focus on things that give your life value and meaning
e.g. relationships, family, recreational activities, your health or
your career.
- Take time to assess your energy levels. If you are
feeling tired or stressed consider ways you can recharge your
battery. Maybe you could get away for a weekend or take a
walk, listen to music or, talk to friends - you decide how best to
take care of yourself.
- Ensure you maintain control of your own recovery by
identifying, and focusing, on the things you can control.
It's ok to acknowledge things beyond your control but try not to
focus on them.
- Ask yourself: "What am I not doing that I used to do? How
do I maintain the quality of my life during this long and, at
times, difficult recovery period?"
- Maintain your established daily or weekly routines, or, if
necessary create temporary ones during the recovery period.
Established routines protect us from uncertainty and constant
change.
- Deal with small problems before they become bigger. Don't
let things slip, or postpone them till after it is all 'back to
normal'. Recovery means finding a new normal and it needs to
include what is valuable and important to you.