A natural disaster can affect many aspects of your life, from your daily routine to financial stability. You may feel a sense of solastalgia, an emotional response to the loss or grief associated with the environmental damage or changes brought about by such events.
Solastalgia differs from nostalgia in a few ways. Nostalgia describes feelings of homesickness or a longing for a time passed, but it isn’t always experienced negatively, as nostalgia can bring up fond memories. Solastalgia, on the other hand, describes a type of depression that follows losing items, communities or landscapes due to natural disasters or the environment changing for the worse for some other reason.
Signs of solastalgia include:
Grief and sadness
Anger or frustration
Depression and anxiety
Loss of hope
Feeling unsafe or unstable
Stress
Coping with solastalgia can be challenging, but there are a few actions you can take to ease the feeling and help you move forward.
Acknowledge your feelings. It’s OK to have complicated or negative feelings after a natural disaster. Don’t be afraid to express how you feel to yourself and others. There is no “right” or “wrong” way to feel. If it is difficult to verbalize your emotions, use other methods like journaling or drawing to express yourself. Acknowledging your feelings is vital to helping you cope better with feelings of solastalgia.
Connect with your community. Building connections by volunteering for activities like cleanup events can help you gain perspective and focus more on others. This shift will help ease stress relating to your own concerns as you help support those around you.
Focus on what you can control. To help manage the feelings of powerlessness that often accompany a natural disaster, consider making a list of actions you can take. This could include contacting your insurance company or securing temporary shelter. By focusing on what is within your control, you regain a sense of agency and purpose and alleviate feelings of helplessness during an uncertain time.
Create a new vision. Grieving after a natural disaster is an essential part of the healing process, but as you navigate your emotions, it’s equally important to start looking ahead. Consider setting new goals—rebuilding your home, restoring your yard or improving it beyond its original state. This shift supports personal recovery and helps you rebuild communities, restoring a sense of purpose along the way.
Seek professional support. Natural disasters can significantly impact your mental health. Exposure to extreme weather events like hurricanes, floods and wildfires can lead to acute stress disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression. Don’t hesitate to reach out to a health care professional as you navigate the aftermath of a natural disaster.
Sources: National Institutes of Health
