Living through a disaster, whether natural or man-made, can take a serious toll on one’s mental health, both in the immediate aftermath of the disaster and for months or even years to follow. Wildfires, floods, earthquakes, tornados, terrorist attacks, warfare, and other life-threatening events can be traumatic and may trigger ongoing mental health symptoms like hyperreactivity, anxiety , or depre
What Is Disaster Psychology? (Plain Language Explanation)
Disaster Psychology refers to a pattern of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that many people experience. While it can be challenging, it's also well-understood and treatable.
Key Terms to Know About Disaster Psychology
- Symptoms: The specific ways disaster psychology shows up for you
- Triggers: Situations or thoughts that activate or worsen disaster psychology
- Evidence-based: Treatments backed by scientific research
- Comorbidity: When disaster psychology occurs alongside other conditions
3 Things Most People Don't Know About Disaster Psychology
- Disaster Psychology is far more common than most people realize
- Disaster Psychology is not caused by weakness — it has identifiable biological and psychological causes
- Most people with disaster psychology see significant improvement with the right support
Your Next Steps
Learning about disaster psychology is just the beginning. If you think you're experiencing disaster psychology, speaking with a mental health professional is the most valuable next step.