Tropical Cyclone Alfred provides an opportunity, albeit unwelcome, to make some comments on my experience and gives me a chance to also comment on a concern I think needs some attention. As one of 4 1/2 million people in the direct line of threat as the cyclone approached the south east area of Queensland, my own experience is perhaps indicative of others, even though the impact directly on me and my home was limited to heavy rain. My main concern is that there is perhaps not enough credence given to the extreme, intense emotions people went through in the mainstream media. The reporting was very comprehensive in terms of the weather system and how it was impacting the built and natural environments. Yet I had trouble finding a sufficient acknowledgement of the extreme threat, profound unsettling and deeply exhausting emotions many people would be experiencing. This can lead to a misfit between what we are feeling and what is being acknowledged in public. As a result we can underestimate the stress, emotional strain and even trauma we are experiencing that more than likely needs us to take extra care of ourselves and each other at this time.
I share some of my emotional intensity and challenges as an example of what I have not communicated yet to anyone, in the days after the cyclone reaching landfall. Not to take away from many people wishing me safety during this time. That matters but it is probably the case that thousands if not millions of people are still grappling with the trauma, if not from their own circumstances, then because of what we have witnessed happening to others.
Disaster upon disaster can take its toll and erode our resilience. Enquiring how others are and being willing to acknowledge the depth and severity of their experience is something we can all do going forward.
You can support my work by following me on TikTok and Instagram and my book, Broken-heartedness, gives other examples of harm and trauma that causes our hearts to break, and what we can do about this.
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