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Effective self-care during disaster and recovery

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Effective self-care during disaster and recovery

Quick facts

Quick Facts

Self-care is an important part of supporting recovery from trauma. It helps to take time for yourself, make healthy lifestyle choices and keep up community connections.

During and after a disaster, it’s important to treat yourself with kindness. Research shows that being compassionate towards ourselves and others helps build our confidence, increases resilience and promotes good mental health.1

You may be trying to cope with a whole range of feelings. Even on good days, practicing self-care can build you up for the times when it’s not so easy. Your feelings are valid. Acknowledge that you’ve been through an extraordinary time and it’s normal to have hard moments as you recover.

  • Using our breathing to ground us

    When we’re feeling distressed, we tend to take shallow breaths that make us light-headed and tense. It seems superficial, but slow, deliberate breathing can really make a difference to our overall wellbeing.

    • Find a quiet space with no interruptions.
    • Try to relax your body. Drop your shoulders, loosen your limbs. Close your eyes.
    • Take a deep breath in through your nose for 3-4 seconds. Notice the sensation of breathing in.
    • Let the breath out for 4-5 seconds. Notice how it feels to let it out.
    • Keeping going. Breathe in, breathe out. Repeat for 10 minutes.

    If you like the way it feels and want to take the next step, mindfulness will help you to focus on the present and bring you fully into your body.

  • Stay in touch

    Being with people we care about is good for our mental health. It gives us more energy, helps us relax and can even help us live longer. During disaster recovery, your community might feel more important than ever. There may be a need to reach out to support others and find support yourself.

    • Make time to check in with friends and family
      You might even set a reminder in your phone, so it doesn’t get missed.
    • Find ways to connect outside of home
      Local communities foster amazing connection after a disaster. Keep an eye out for opportunities from sporting clubs, faith-based organisations and interest groups. You might not feel up for a big activity, but even joining a local social media group is a good start.
    • Spend time with your pet
      Our furry, feathered and scaly friends can help lower stress levels and ease feelings of anxiety and depression.
    • Avoid ‘doomscrolling’
      In the short-term, take respite from news and social media that’s causing distress. Balance it with creative works, uplifting stories and necessary facts.
    • Connect with others who understand
      Engaging with empathetic people is an amazing tool for mental health. If you’re feeling like no one else gets it, you might find comfort on the SANE Forums
    • Take time out, if you need to
      It’s normal to feel overwhelmed right now, and it’s okay to step back when you need to recover. Just make sure you check in again afterwards.
  • Make practical changes to your everyday life

    Self-care can cover big and small techniques. Sometimes you might need serious time out to meditate and reflect, while other times might call for a soothing massage.

    There are all sorts of practical tips you can introduce into your routine.

    • Choose a well-balanced and nutritious diet. Caffeine and alcohol can exacerbate feelings of anxiety and depression2, so it may help to cut back for now.
    • Get outdoors! Sunshine and movement are good for your mind and body.
    • Consider a self-care journal. Every day, jot down how you’re feeling. Keeping a record makes it easier to reflect on good days.
    • Reflect on the positives. What inspires you? What are three things that make the world a better place?
    • Make lists and reminders of what helps – it can be tricky to remember in tough times.
    • Try to get into a good sleep routine – avoid using devices in bed, relax with a book or calming soundtrack, and get under the covers at the same time every day if you can
    • Make slow, small changes towards a healthy lifestyle. It’s okay if you feel like you can’t make major changes right now. Every bit helps.
  • Make a commitment to self-care

    Even when we know what helps, it can be hard to stick to it. Having a routine helps for many reasons. Knowing what to expect reduces stress. Predictability is calming. Trauma can make it hard to look ahead and focus.

    Self-care doesn’t always go to plan, but when we’re clear about what to do, it’s easier to adapt. We recommend:

    • Keeping your routine simple.
    • Including time for respite and healing.
    • Planning to adapt if the routine changes.
    • Committing to doing at least one thing every day to care for yourself.
  • Check out tools and apps that might help

    We’ve put together a helpful selection of apps for managing your personal health, time, finances, food and more.

  • Finding additional support

    If you’re concerned about how you’re feeling, speak to your existing mental health professional, or contact SANE's free counselling support on 1800 187 263 for information, advice and referral. You can also connect with others who have been through similar experiences and understand what you’re going through via our online, moderated, anonymous forums.

  • References

Last updated: 19 October 2023

Ways we can support you

Choose from a range of FREE complex mental health supports, including counselling, peer support, online groups and events, 24/7 community forums, and online information and resources.

Please note: We're working on improvements to our Support Line! We're making system enhancements, recruiting and training more counsellors and preparing for the relaunch of webchat. During this time, there will be reduced capacity on the Support Line, and we are anticipating longer than expected wait-times for callers to connect with a counsellor. We appreciate your patience and understanding while we work to improve capacity and accessibility. If you would like to provide feedback about this change, you can do so here.

Support Line

Available Monday to Friday, 10am - 8pm (AEDT/AEST). SANE’s team of trained staff and volunteers provide free counselling, information and resources. Call 1800 187 263.
Free Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) 131 450.

Community Forums

Available 24/7. Connect with people who understand what you are going through, seek advice and surround yourself with support. They're safe and anonymous.

RecoveryClub

Available Monday to Friday, 12-8pm (AEDT/AEST). A 6-month online program for people wanting to navigate their mental health recovery at their own pace. Access evidence-based recovery resources and online groups to help you manage your mental health and work towards your recovery goals.

Guided Recovery

Available Monday to Friday, 10am to 8pm (AEDT/AEST). A 15-week program for people wanting individual guidance and support with their mental health recovery. Includes 6 appointments with a dedicated counsellor or peer support worker and access to online groups.

Peer Group Chat

Thursday and Sunday evenings. Live chat-based discussions, guided by SANE community builders. New topics each week.

Mental Health Recovery Webinars

Last Wednesday of every month, 7-8pm (AEDT/AEST). Monthly community webinars with new topics and guests, including lived experience advocates and subject matter experts. 

Information and Resources

Available 24/7. Access information you can trust on complex mental health issues. SANE factsheets and guides are easy to read and can help you understand what’s happening and what strategies can be helpful.

Guidance for supporting someone at risk of suicide

Available 24/7. A resource that provides information and advice about supporting someone who has attempted, or is at risk of attempting, suicide.

Have questions? Click here to read our FAQs or email us at getsupport@sane.org

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