NEW YORK, Jan. 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — It's been over three months since Hurricane Sandy devastated the East Coast. But as survivors and volunteers continue to repair the physical damage from the storm, it's important to remember that, for many people, the task of repairing the long-term emotional damage is just beginning.
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Dr. Laurie Nadel, who specializes in trauma and stress management, has created an Actionplan for Fitango.com, "Managing excessive stress after a traumatic event." This plan is specifically for survivors of catastrophes, and is an expert-crafted, step-by-step guide through the healing and self-care process.
"Traumatic stress is complicated and different for each person," she told Fitango. "It is not a sign of weakness, nor should you blame yourself if you are having difficulty sleeping, concentrating, or eating. Do not let other people tell you it's time to get over it. Unless someone has experienced a traumatic loss, he or she has no idea how complicated it is to regroup. Be patient. It takes time but your mind-body-spirit will heal."
The state of New York has also taken steps to address the psychological and emotional damage caused by Sandy. Funded through a grant by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Project HOPE is a crisis counseling program for Hurricane Sandy survivors.
Tamar Renaud, the New York City Project HOPE Director, says that the health problems created in the wake of a natural disaster can be severe.
"The research around disaster shows that people exposed to disaster may have all sorts of related problems, including PTSD, grief, depression, anxiety, and stress-related health problems," says Renaud.
The role of Project HOPE is to provide a listening ear for people who are working to put their lives back together and provide linkages to much-needed resources to help with their recovery. Project Hope crisis counseling services are free, confidential and available at a time and place that works best for the survivor.
Dr. Nadel is coordinating with Project HOPE to refer people to her weekly free support group for Hurricane Sandy survivors in Long Beach, New York. By offering Dr. Nadel's Actionplan, Fitango aims to supplement existing mental health resources and programs, and to provide users with yet another tool for self-care.
"We're proud to be offering Dr. Nadel's plan free of charge throughout February," says Fitango.com CEO Dov Biran. "Fitango's connective e-Health platform is designed to help Americans proactively manage their own health. We've personally witnessed some of the psychological damage inflicted by Sandy. In response, we're providing Dr. Nadel's Actionplan, which will be an invaluable part of the healing process for many survivors."
With Dr. Nadel's expert-crafted, step-by-step advice, users at Fitango can track their own recovery process and put together the emotional first aid kit that Dr. Nadel says is essential to surviving trauma. In the wake of a natural disaster, we all have a responsibility to help the survivors who have been most affected. By offering this Actionplan, Fitango is doing its part to help New Yorkers pursue their emotional recovery from the devastation of Hurricane Sandy.
Project HOPE can be reached by calling 1-800-LIFENET (543-3638). When calling LIFENET, a 24/7 crisis hotline, simply let them know it is a call for Project HOPE. LIFENET will locate a provider agency that knows the community and is ready to assist with recovery.
Fitango is a collaborative e-Health adherence platform, providing health professionals an innovative way to help users reach health goals and improve their lives. The platform offers expert-crafted Actionplans, web-based collaboration between users and health experts, social support, and a wide range of motivation tools – revolutionizing the way people adhere to their health.
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