RECOGNIZE SYMPTOMS OF MENTAL HEALTH DISTRESS, TAKE ACTION
[https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20201016/reconozca-los-sintomas-de-la-angustia-mental-y-tome-accion]


SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO – Hurricanes are life-changing events. People
are sometimes displaced from homes, children miss school, and plans of
all sorts are put on hold. Unfamiliar feelings and stress can be
natural reactions to this uncertainty.

Some typical symptoms of stress include:

	* Not wanting to take part in things that normally bring joy.
	* Feelings of anxiety or hopelessness.
	* Thinking about self-harm.

People are often reluctant to acknowledge emotional change; however,
the body has ways of communicating mental distress. Signals may
include:

	* Persistent headaches.
	* Difficulty concentrating.
	* Stomach problems.
	* Insomnia.
	* Poor appetite or overeating.
	* Low energy.

The body’s ability to communicate emotional problems allows you to
begin healing or to help those around you. The following actions and
resources offer opportunities to address symptoms you discover in
yourself or others:

	* TALKING: Talking with somebody can be the most healing thing to do.
Whether it’s family, friends, neighbors, spiritual leaders, or a
counselors, conversations about life start the process of feeling
better.
	* LISTENING: Listening to somebody else’s troubles may help you
feel more comfortable in talking about your own. Listening also
reinforces a sense that you “aren’t in it alone.” Try starting a
conversation with a simple question like “How are you doing?”
“Is your family ok?” Showing others that you care about them will
make both of you feel less alone.
	* ROUTINE: Establish a routine to help set a new normal. Get up at
the time every day, take care of your hygiene, and set goals. If your
work and school schedules are interrupted, make new ones. Block off
times to take care of tasks you look forward to and those you dread:
paperwork, recovery-related telephone calls, social
networking—having order in your day lets you know that you’re
still in control.
	* EXERCISE: Physical exercise really is good for body and mind, there
are proven positive reactions. Maybe your fitness center is closed or
the bike/running trail is unusable – then find something else to
keep your body active.
	* GO OUTSIDE AND MEET WITH PEOPLE: Some people feel like they need to
stay in bed when they are stressed. They have harmful thoughts that
circle around and around because they are idle. Getting out of bed and
visiting a new place can help interrupt those cyclic thoughts. Attend
social gatherings or at least take a walk and take note of
improvements in your surroundings.
	* CHECK WITH YOUR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN: Your doctor can help
connect you with mental health services. If you were previously seeing
a mental health professional, return to your normal psychiatric care
provider and routine. If this is not possible you can seek help
identifying a new provider at your local health center.
	* CALL THE FREE, LINEA PAS COUNSELING HOTLINE: The friendly people
staffing the hotline will talk with you in English or Spanish, 24
hours a day, seven days per week. The hotline is available whether you
are calling about yourself, somebody else, to just “talk” with
somebody, or to get help with the next step. Call 1-(800)-981-0023.

###

_FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to
ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and
improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to,
recover from, and mitigate all hazards._

_Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race,
color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English
proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been
discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-3362 (voice,
711/VRS - Video Relay Service). Multilingual operators are available
(press 2 for Spanish).
TTY: 800-462- 7585. _

_The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the
long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged property. SBA helps
businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners
and renters, which can cover the cost of replacing lost or
disaster-damaged real estate and personal property. These disaster
loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other
recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or
organizations. _
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