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Natural disasters like fires, floods, cyclones or earthquakes are traumatic events to live through. It's normal for people to react differently when faced with life-changing things. 

You might feel: 

• shocked + unprepared 
• scared 
• grief 
• helpless + worried about the future
• angry 

It can take time to wrap your head around what has happened, and your feelings might change once you've had time to process it. So, what can you do to look after yourself after a natural disaster? 

1. Make self-care a priority. 

It's hard to put yourself first when there's a good chance lots of people you care about are struggling too. The phrase "put your oxygen mask on first" comes to mind because it's harder to help others if you're not coping. 

Self-care can be simple: regularly eating, getting enough sleep, moving your body, and practising breathing exercises. 

2. Spend time with family and friends. 

 There is usually much work to be done following a natural disaster. Try to schedule a time to rest, connect and recover with your loved ones. Having that time with others in the same boat will help you get through the tough times. 

Do something you'd usually do together like playing video games, sharing a meal or chatting on the phone. 

3. Connect with your community 

 It's incredible how people band together to get through hard times. Some people find it helpful to get involved with community efforts to help with clean up, organising food drives and material assistance. 

If you feel up to it, talk to community leaders, check local social media pages and see how you can lend a hand. This can be a great way to ease people's helplessness after a natural disaster. 

If you're watching a natural disaster unfold from a distance, finding a way to help is a practical and compassionate way to let affected communities know they aren't alone. 

If you're struggling or feeling distressed, please know that you are not alone. 

• Check out our article "How to deal with the stress of bushfires, floods, earthquakes and cyclones" for tips on coping with the long-term impact. 
• Create a thread and let us know how you're feeling
• If a natural disaster has got you thinking about climate change, check out our article on coping with climate anxiety. 
• Search for natural disaster support services here and here
• The Disaster Assist website can show you how to get help or give help. 
• If you need someone to talk to, call BeyondBlue on 1300 22 4636.

If you have tips for how to cope with a natural disaster, let us know in the comments 👇