Conquering Fear and Anxiety: Hurricane Gilbert

There was an unexplained calm just before the storm. The atmosphere was very hushed, that even the chirping birds disappeared. Nature came to a standstill! Even, the pigs stopped grunting, and wallowing in the mud; they just lay there as if waiting for the unexpected.

The incessant knocking of hammers, and the vehement sounds of machetes and chainsaws echoed across the district, as frantic neighbours, scurried to secure themselves and their property.

Atop the zinc roof, my grandfather, walked across its entirety, checking for holes, and lifts that water could seep through. He sent me to his wood shed, for some of the items he needed to seal the holes, giving rapid instructions on where to find what he wanted me to take up the ladder.

I had never been on the roof before and the view was not only mesmerizing but breathtakingly beautiful. I could see as far away as the main road that linked the town. Lush vegetation and crops covered acres of land all around us and I was so far up that in my imagination I thought I could actually touch the skies.

As preparations continued in earnest, the neighbours began congregating in numbers at each other’s gates, deliberating on the forecasted intensity of the storm. Some with portable radios in hand, they listened intently to the updates, and recalled the fury of the ’51 Storm’ named Charlie that hit Jamaica in 1951.

Apparently, this hurricane was worse than the other storms that preceded it, with the last major occurrence being Hurricane Allen in 1980 that did minimal damage to the island’s infrastructure.

We sat on the veranda and waited!

The clouds curled and curved until the sky was completely engulfed in darkness. Lightening zipped across the skies, giving the only light to the darkness that permeated the atmosphere; and with the lightening came the heavy rolls of the thunder, that rumbled incessantly, seemingly digging deep into the core of the earths crust.

The tiny droplets of rain pitter-pattered on the grass, and you could smell the air rising from the depths of the earth, as the water quenched the thirsty soil. The rain pelted the land, accompanied by heavy thunder and lightning, and strong winds; nature had begun unleashing its fury.

In the twinkling of an eye, a stroke of lightening zipped across the sky and made it ways unto our veranda, cutting through the flower pots, and dug through the ground, making zig zag marks, across the floor just stopping short of taking off the door to the main living room. It was a horrible blood curling sound, that sent me screaming and scampering to the back of the house.

I think this was the first time, I literally peed on myself; and I shook in fear as tears, helplessly, streamed down my face.

The winds hurled and bellowed against the walls and windows, and whistled under the tiny openings under the doors, nailed and sealed shut by my grandfather.

The back of the house was not a refuge either, as sooner than later, the lightening zipped across the night sky and shredded our breadfruit tree in half; the tree was located to the rear of the property. To think the veranda episode was scary was an understatement, as trees that were uprooted fell around and, against the house, while the wind blew everything it could carry across the night sky.

In absolute and complete darkness; with the electricity long already gone, I ran under the bed, and swore I would never come out again. Thankfully, no water came into the house, and so my spot under the bed became a safe haven; while my grandfather sat in his chair in the living room, as calm as a lamb, with his trusted machete by his side, awaiting any eventualities.

I did not sleep, and every second seemed like an eternity. For hours, our house took the battering, but like every challenge in life; it withstood the storm! The grand old lady as I now call it – although withered and worn, still stands proud and majestic, with every frame intact, including the roof, albeit surrounded in and out with vines and bushes but bearing testimony to the legacy’s it has reaped, homed and guarded over the years. 

Despite the terror of fear that enveloped me in the tiny space under the bed, I was grateful that during the storm that we still had the roof over our heads; we were not looking up into the night sky or drenched from the pounding rain that fell on the roof. 

Others around us were not so fortunate, including the home that my grandmother was staying at in the other parish. As Lloyd Lovindeer said in his song ‘Wild Gilbert’, ‘the roof migrate without a visa…we in a di dark nuh light nuh on ya’

As daybreak came, nature began to calm itself, and I slowly crawled out from under my hiding place. I peeked through the windows, and jumped in shock and amazement. Every tree as far as my eyes could see was gone and there were all kinds of tangled debris strewn across our yard. The apocalypse had come!

Even after the rain had subsided, it was still not safe to venture outside; and my grandfather chided me away from the windows.  As I sat barefooted, with my feet dangling from the dining room chair, I was thankful it was the dawning of a new day, but what lay outside to await us, was more than my mind could ever have imagined…

HOW DOES STRESS CAUSE ANXIETY?

Not everyone who worries a lot has an anxiety disorder. You may feel anxious because of an overly demanding schedule, lack of exercise or sleep, pressure at home or work, or even from too much caffeine.

The bottom line is that if your lifestyle is unhealthy and stressful, you are more likely to feel anxious, whether or not you actually have an anxiety disorder.

These tips can help to lower anxiety and manage symptoms of a disorder:

•     Connect with others. Loneliness and isolation can trigger or worsen anxiety, while talking about your worries face to face can often make them seem less overwhelming.
•     Make it a point to regularly meet up with friends, join a self-help or support group, or share your worries and concerns with a trusted loved one. If you don’t have anyone you can reach out to, it’s never too late to build new friendships and a support network.
•     Manage stress. If your stress levels are through the roof, stress management can help. Look at your responsibilities and see if there are any you can give up, turn down, or delegate to others.
•     Practice relaxation techniques. When practiced regularly relaxation techniques such as mindfulness meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, and deep breathing can reduce anxiety symptoms and increase feelings of relaxation and emotional well-being.
•     Exercise regularly. Exercise is a natural stress buster and anxiety reliever. To achieve the maximum benefit, aim for at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise on most days (broken up into short periods if that’s easier). Rhythmic activities that require moving both your arms and legs are especially effective. Try walking, running, swimming, martial arts, or dancing.
•     Get enough sleep. A lack of sleep can exacerbate anxious thoughts and feelings, so try to get seven to nine hours of quality sleep a night.

(SOURCE: www. helpguide.org; http://www.healthline.com; http://www.adaa.org; www.headsup.org.au, www. stress.org, www.cambridge-credit.org , www.thebalance.com)

Keisha A. Hill is media practitioner and communications consultant. Send feedback to kanhillcommunications@gmail.com or editorial@oldharbournews.com. Visit Jamaican Chronicles to read more blogs by the author.