Hurricane Recovery: Steps to Start Putting Your Life Back in Order

It seems unreal, another major storm hitting Florida after experiencing four last year. The beginning of hurricane season, Floridians were just starting to get past the destructive events that caused many of people stress and even, depression. As Hurricane Dennis comes onshore, the upcoming hours, days, and months afterwards may be ones of disbelief and shock. There are ways to help get one?s life back in order after these type of predicaments.

Express your emotions when you feel them. If you feel urge to cry, give into it. It's probably the healthiest things you can do for your body as it looks for a way to release any build-up of tension. Don?t be surprised, too, if you seem to have your act together and then at the least expected moment, tears erupt again. Be kind and understanding with yourself whether others are or not.

Talk about your feelings, concerns, and fears. Be honest. Say them out loud to your family, friends, boss, and co-workers. If you can?t get the words out verbally, write them in a letter. You might be surprised that others feel exactly the way you do but were hesitant to express them.

Ask for help immediately. Let your ego step forward. Don?t keep your needs to yourself. Reduce as much stress as you can today. From a bottle of water to an extension on paying a bill, register with FEMA, call your insurance company, and contact your creditors as soon as possible. Getting these things out of the way gives you more energy to deal with other things

Accept help immediately. Now is not the time for pride to stand in the way. Those that offer help are usually in a place to do so are, or they probably wouldn't have extended their invitation in the first place. Take them up on their offer without excuses. Food, a place to stay, clothing, or transportation can again leave you with less to worry about right now. Worry about how to provide payback on any of this later when your life is back in order. You'll be in a better place to consider your thank- yous and they might end up being more what is needed by your benefactors anyway.

Life after a traumatic event such as a hurricane may be life-altering so expect some time to pass before you feel like yourself again. Remember that free professional help is available from government, church, and other charitable organizations at times like this. They were designed for moments like these.

Kathy Iwanowski, a former cancer nurse and manager, creates art, speaks, and writes about creative living and work. She resides in Florida. Her articles, editorials, and reviews on art, business, creativity, and nursing subjects have been published in newsletters, ezines, and books in the United States.

To arrange for Kathy as a speaker for your next event or to find out more about her work, visit her website at http://www.kathyiwanowski.com

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Nana weakens, new depression forms in Caribbean - The Associated Press

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0i-0fd=Rurl=http://www.caribbean360.com/News/Caribbean/Stories/2008/10/13/NEWS0000006433.htmlcid=1256976186ei=SY3zSLv9LaSUMryp_YsBusg=AFQjCNGUHBvXWnptabgBQQPnSFfJjKy0xwimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=xhAuq8Yau8AJimgurl=www.caribbean360.com/Media/Weather/ts_nana_131008.jpg width=80 height=58 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Caribbean360.com/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-0fd=Rurl=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gVWjsPEiqe1tEu2mhBIRaxxGi8owD93PMGVO0cid=1256976186ei=SY3zSLv9LaSUMryp_YsBusg=AFQjCNF8RLbxgG7DZj5fL-gbSs1mOHj-IgNana weakens, new bdepression/b forms in Caribbean/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fThe Associated Pressnbsp;-/font nobr2 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1MIAMI (AP) — The National Hurricane Center in Miami says a new tropical bdepression/b has formed over the eastern Caribbean even as what had been Tropical b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-1fd=Rurl=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/weather/10/12/tropical.weather/%3Fimw%3DY%26iref%3Dmpstoryemailcid=1256976186ei=SY3zSLv9LaSUMryp_YsBusg=AFQjCNF0nkjLO3-KO1mbk4s-rZalbzi8ggNEW: Nana expected to weaken to a tropical bdepression/b Monday/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrCNN International/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-2fd=Rurl=http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE49C3MB20081013cid=1256976186ei=SY3zSLv9LaSUMryp_YsBusg=AFQjCNHskQz1ntT0nU697ydvOy0FZK4unATropical bdepression/b may form in Caribbean: NHC/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrReuters/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-3fd=Rurl=http://www.bviplatinum.com/news.php%3Fsection%3Darticle%26source%3D1223915032cid=1256976186ei=SY3zSLv9LaSUMryp_YsBusg=AFQjCNFO-7eaN2OVUoC9GGw5zKQEdjCC3ANew Tropical bDepression/b 15 Likely to Affect Virgin Islands/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrPlatinum News Online/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-4fd=Rurl=http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/local/tropical_depression_forms_in_the_caribbean_10-13-2008.htmlcid=1256976186ei=SY3zSLv9LaSUMryp_YsBusg=AFQjCNEtiMLdqcss7bncAFgB5no5DWjJAAnobrBeaumont Enterprise/nobr/anbsp;- a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-5fd=Rurl=http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/breaking_news/story/628845.htmlcid=1256976186ei=SY3zSLv9LaSUMryp_YsBusg=AFQjCNHKpjOz6rlzR-HM9uhYXO-z9NVEJgnobrMyrtle Beach Sun News/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1256976186hl=ennobrall 539 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Another economic depression? - BusinessWorld Online

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/1-0fd=Rurl=http://www.bworldonline.com/BW101408/content.php%3Fid%3D144cid=1257303286ei=SY3zSLv9LaSUMryp_YsBusg=AFQjCNGlNzZkp1t0qaMsRr4WFixJh3GJ9wAnother economic bdepression/b?/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fBusinessWorld Online,nbsp;Philippinesnbsp;-/font nobr2 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1There is a consensus that we are seeing the beginning of a global recession, and the question now is whether the next stage will be an economic bdepression/b. b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/1-1fd=Rurl=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/13/business/13views.html%3Fref%3Dbusinesscid=1257303286ei=SY3zSLv9LaSUMryp_YsBusg=AFQjCNEcLdHbizRYjtvyk0CjGr7ctUlgnQBreakingviews.com Crisis Is Milder Outside Finance/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrNew York Times/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/1-2fd=Rurl=http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20081011/cleisure/cleisure1.htmlcid=1257303286ei=SY3zSLv9LaSUMryp_YsBusg=AFQjCNELD3SPdn2K4ooVmtzfVXsjwU9YLAEDITORIAL - Weathering the financial storm/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrJamaica Gleaner/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1257303286hl=ennobrall 4 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

New dads can get postpartum depression, too - CNN

Great Depression holds lessons for surviving tough economy - CNN

The Gathering Storm—Is Another Great Depression Approaching? - The Cutting Edge

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4i-0fd=Rurl=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122385649246427253.html%3Fmod%3Dgooglenews_wsjcid=1256391166ei=SY3zSLv9LaSUMryp_YsBusg=AFQjCNGUs7gtQsEqBkt-B4MLvJRwcbR5SAimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=Gpfh7tEGov0Jimgurl=s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-CM645_guille_D_20081012215305.jpg width=80 height=53 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Wall Street Journal/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4-0fd=Rurl=http://www.thecuttingedgenews.com/index.php%3Farticle%3D826%26pageid%3D44%26pagename%3DSlicescid=1256391166ei=SY3zSLv9LaSUMryp_YsBusg=AFQjCNFvv23BhLD0OC2PoH4usJDiXHxv3AThe Gathering Storm—Is Another Great bDepression/b Approaching?/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fThe Cutting Edge,nbsp;DCnbsp;-/font nobr5 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1In the last few weeks there has been much discussion about the Great bDepression/b. Jim Cramer has said that if the bailout wasn’t passed, we would experience b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4-1fd=Rurl=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news%3Fpid%3D20601086%26sid%3DatQy2U.Jg17k%26refer%3Dlatin_americacid=1256391166ei=SY3zSLv9LaSUMryp_YsBusg=AFQjCNG3xBLe1aho-bhhBdbB4OT5Uzl-lgMexico Peso Gains Most in 13 Years, Brazil Real Most Since 2002/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrBloomberg/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4-2fd=Rurl=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122385649246427253.html%3Fmod%3Dgooglenews_wsjcid=1256391166ei=SY3zSLv9LaSUMryp_YsBusg=AFQjCNGUs7gtQsEqBkt-B4MLvJRwcbR5SAMexican Crisis Holds Lessons for US/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrWall Street Journal/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4-3fd=Rurl=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/10/13/business/LT-Mexico-Peso.phpcid=1256391166ei=SY3zSLv9LaSUMryp_YsBusg=AFQjCNF6cPoSH8rz1boAGA3ifJkfTeSzpQMexican peso strengthens amid bank rescue news/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrInternational Herald Tribune/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4-4fd=Rurl=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news%3Fpid%3D20601086%26sid%3DaknJpDs_59PE%26refer%3Dnewscid=1256391166ei=SY3zSLv9LaSUMryp_YsBusg=AFQjCNHXGRJ2URZqyLXgV7I9uX0R3ODGlwnobrBloomberg/nobr/anbsp;- a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4-5fd=Rurl=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news%3Fpid%3D20601086%26sid%3DadvjRqKLeHyA%26refer%3Dnewscid=1256391166ei=SY3zSLv9LaSUMryp_YsBusg=AFQjCNGQ8uNfwMR6q2sN5sLS7S6NtPcwRwnobrBloomberg/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1256391166hl=ennobrall 92 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Depression Lessons - Wall Street Journal

The face of depression - Modesto Bee

World heading for Great Depression II - Inquirer.net

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/7-0fd=Rurl=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20081013-166103/World-heading-for-Great-Depression-IIcid=1256795577ei=SY3zSLv9LaSUMryp_YsBusg=AFQjCNEBHVPKa8hUykO05iHfgbzYUk0LGAWorld heading for Great bDepression/b II/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fInquirer.net,nbsp;Philippinesnbsp;-/font nobr18 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1After this, the only shot left to avoid bdepression/b is bank nationalization.” The Financial Times further reported that the crash in equity markets last week b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/7-1fd=Rurl=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/THE-GREAT-DEPRESSION/372548cid=1256795577ei=SY3zSLv9LaSUMryp_YsBusg=AFQjCNEvtdQJSp2139VGMJ9rKC0LWTsI2wTHE GREAT bDEPRESSION/b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrIndian Express/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/7-2fd=Rurl=http://www.marshallnewsmessenger.com/hp/content/shared/news/stories/2008/10/DEPRESSION11_1STLD_COX.htmlcid=1256795577ei=SY3zSLv9LaSUMryp_YsBusg=AFQjCNGb_8KK8REalNBlj_tjH8njJA0xXQLessons from the Great bDepression/b relevant today/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrMarshall News Messenger/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/7-3fd=Rurl=http://www.alternet.org/workplace/102379/recession_depression_how_deep,_how_far_and_what_can_be_done/cid=1256795577ei=SY3zSLv9LaSUMryp_YsBusg=AFQjCNHrhXpI-FntsG0EEcxcn1J8SVYDigRecession? bDepression/b? How Deep, How Far and What Can Be Done?/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrAlterNet/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1256795577hl=ennobrall 7 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Stephen King: Lessons from the Great Depression of the 1930s have ... - Independent

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-0fd=Rurl=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/stephen-king/stephen-king-lessons-from-the-great-depression-of-the-1930s-have-not-been-learnt-959408.htmlcid=1257294954ei=SY3zSLv9LaSUMryp_YsBusg=AFQjCNHZOVeqywsuYlVh-Y-shc2TvCzUQgStephen King: Lessons from the Great bDepression/b of the 1930s have b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fIndependent,nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobr17 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Already, this ranks as the fifth biggest stock market decline since the 1920s, beaten only by the 1929 Wall Street Crash (and the ensuing bDepression/b in the b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-1fd=Rurl=http://www.investors.com/editorial/editorialcontent.asp%3Fsecid%3D1501%26status%3Darticle%26id%3D308530374766527cid=1257294954ei=SY3zSLv9LaSUMryp_YsBusg=AFQjCNElCSRFQP5ToKyk-_Qk7VVSJki89gTalking Ourselves Into A bDepression/b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrInvestor's Business Daily (subscription)/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1257294954hl=ennobrall 3 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Yale Doc Warns of Depression Risk in Heart Patients - Connecticut Business News Journal

Depression - Google News

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