When the waters recede: Hurricane Harvey and PTSD through indirect trauma

September 6, 2017|Family Medicine

Harvey’s vast destruction

This past week, when Category 4 Hurricane Harvey struck my beloved city, I could not have imagined the losses that were waiting for us. After finishing up a short workday on Friday, Aug. 25, I made my last run for supplies before the weekend. Like many others, I had been keeping an eye on the news as we heard about the destruction Harvey had wreaked on Rockport, South Padre, and Corpus Christi. We all knew that this one was the real deal, that Harvey was going to challenge us in every way possible. For the next 4 days I hunkered down in my house, waiting out the periods of torrential rain while keeping a close eye on the news. At worst, my neighborhood flooded up to the front sidewalk, but water never entered my home, as it did for so many unfortunate individuals. I never lost power, air conditioning, or Internet access. The most distressing thing to happen to me was the inability to leave my home for fear of being caught in the floodwater.

Having been through three previous major floods, I can honestly say this was unlike anything I had ever experienced. On the first full night of Harvey, I must have checked the rise of water in front of my house every 30 minutes. I was up until nearly 5 a.m., worrying and obsessively watching the news for the most up-to-date predictions. Every time it rained after the first downpour, I could feel the tension take over my body while my mind raced over the possibilities. Through social media, I was privy to the suffering of my friends but helpless to intervene. All the while, Harvey raged on. In spite of the rain and the danger of being swept away, the rescue efforts by neighbors far and wide began. I had never been prouder to call myself a Texan.

We are #The CityWithNoLimits.

We are #HoustonStrong.

We are #TexasStrong.

When the waters recede, we will persevere.

Jennifer Yen, MD, is a board-certified child, adolescent, and adult private practice psychiatrist in Houston. She also is a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine and serves on the Consumers Issues Committee of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.