Conquering Fear and Anxiety: Change cometh in the aftermath of Hurricane Gilbert

The sun shone brightly in the clear blue skies. Not a cloud was in sight and the splendour and majestic framed colours in the sky seemed perfectly crafted by an artist’s hand.  This scenery created the perfect backdrop for what awaited us outside. There was debris everywhere, and as far as my eyes could see were remnants of my neighbours’ home, and property.

Our neighbour on the hill lost her roof completely, while others on the other side of us, especially the older houses, made from wattle and daub, were completely destroyed.

I sat on the veranda and watched my grandfather moving about the yard in his workman boots. He was chopping and clearing the driveway, and dumping everything into a pile at the back of the yard. He said it wasn’t safe for me to walk around the yard, because I could step on debris that wasn’t obvious; perhaps a nail could run into my feet.

It wasn’t until late afternoon, that I could make my way around the yard. Everything on our farm was destroyed and the stagnant water at the bamboo trees was very high, just a few inches from the coffee trees that lined the backyard. Around that side of the property, my grandfather cultivated yam, sweet potatoes, pineapples and peas. There was also guava, cherry and a few tangerine trees that were completely immersed in water.

The breadfruit tree that got its fair share of beating by the storm, saw the remaining branches crashing to the ground.  As the days progressed, a repugnant smell emanated across the district as neighbours burned debris, and buried animals that had met their demise.

It was a hard time for everyone! There was no electricity, and food items were very scare. Thankfully my grandfather had secured produce from the farm, so we were never hungry. I knew there were dark days ahead, even as the helicopters frequently circled around in the sky.

One day my grandfather left home. This was the first time he had left the home since the storm. The damage was so severe that my school had remained closed, and I spent a great deal of time in the miscellaneous room that also housed the library.

For several days he made the long trek into the town, and with my new found freedom, I used the opportunity to read as many books as I could.  This was always my escape!

One afternoon, a car drove into our yard, with my grandfather in tow. A familiar face, and voice came booming from the car window. It was my grandmother! In my excitement, I tripped over myself several times, as I ran down the veranda steps to meet her. It was the first time I was seeing her in almost two years. I was ecstatic!

She wasn’t alone! With her were two children that looked almost the same age as me; although one seemed a bit younger.  As my grandfather and the young man removed the bags from the car, I realized my life was about to enter another dimension.

Everyone chatted loudly, and the two children, raced from the car eager to start playing with me. It was the first time I would be having the company of children at the home. Nonetheless I joined them in their banter, running around the yard, while taking in all the excitement. I was happy that my grandmother was at home; and that at least my life would return to some level of normalcy.

During the hurricane, the roof of their house was destroyed, and everything in the home was lost. On his many treks into the town, it seemed my grandfather was making preparations to take my grandmother home.

The outcome was a pleasant surprise, and one that brought great happiness to me. My grandfather was no longer alone, and his state of mind seemed calmer and more relaxed. I didn’t know how long my grandmother would stay, but I hoped that she would never leave again…

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.

Practice Mindfulness

The centuries-old practice of mindfulness can help you break free of your worries by bringing your attention back to the present. This strategy is based on observing your worries and then letting them go, helping you identify where your thinking is causing problems and getting in touch with your emotions.

• Acknowledge and observe your worries. Don’t try to ignore, fight, or control them like you usually would. Instead, simply observe them as if from an outsider’s perspective, without reacting or judging.
• Let your worries go. Notice that when you don’t try to control the anxious thoughts that pop up, they soon pass, like clouds moving across the sky. It’s only when you engage your worries that you get stuck.
• Stay focused on the present. Pay attention to the way your body feels, the rhythm of your breathing, your ever-changing emotions, and the thoughts that drift across your mind. If you find yourself getting stuck on a particular thought, bring your attention back to the present moment.

Repeat daily. Using mindfulness to stay focused on the present is a simple concept, but it takes time and regular practice to reap the benefits. At first, you’ll probably find that your mind keeps wandering back to your worries. Try not to get frustrated. Each time you draw your focus back to the present, you are reinforcing a new mental habit that will help you break free of the negative worry cycle. (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.