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Dr. Marshall Belaga, Senior Care Program Medical Director

After Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Mississippi Gulf Coast on Aug. 29, 2005, destroying 70,000 homes in south Mississippi and damaging tens of thousands more, evacuees headed north to Hattiesburg and Jackson, seeking solace from the ruins.

Primarily to help the many displaced residents who experienced the trauma of the category four storm, Rankin Medical Center's Senior Care Program began focusing on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), an after-effect of trauma that can produce debilitating and long-term effects such as flashbacks, nightmares, physical and mental agitation, sudden anger and aggression, and emotional numbing.

"We usually have one big program a year about PTSD associated with mental health awareness, and we have a support group, but the number of displaced residents from the Gulf Coast and Louisiana prompted us to step up our efforts," said Dr. Marshall Belaga, medical director for the Senior Care Program. "There are so many people who are displaced, not able to go back home, and they're almost paralyzed emotionally and mentally about what to do next."

Last year, the Senior Care Program assisted 65 people with the PTSD disorder. By mid-May, approximately 40 people suffering from PTSD had sought help through the program.

"Like sensitivity to pain, everyone experiences trauma differently," said Belaga. "However, we do know that the likelihood is greater among people who experience intense trauma such as childhood sexual abuse and rape, or long-term exposure to war zone stressors."

Pre-Hurricane Katrina estimates predicted that 5.2 million Americans would suffer from PTSD. The revised number, yet undetermined, could easily reach 6 million, when Hurricane Rita is factored in. Catastrophic events like 9/11 and natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina or other traumas including sexual assault may cause PTSD to those exposed to them, explained Belaga.

"It's a condition that has long been recognized among soldiers who have witnessed combat," he said. "Now it's well-known that anyone who has experienced a traumatic event can develop the disorder. Even people from around here who only had trees down are insecure. They've been glued to the TV watching the media coverage, which has fueled their fear."

The first step in healing from trauma is recognizing that it can affect anyone, and PTSD is a common physiological and emotional response to trauma.

"It's normal to have anxiety about these issues, and it's important to talk to a medical doctor if you experience nightmares or have difficulty sleeping or any other symptoms associated with PTSD," said Belaga. "People need to know that they aren't weak or losing their grip on reality. It will improve over time. When we experience physical harm, the body takes time to heal. It's the same with our mental and emotional processes. And just as there are medical treatments to heal physical injuries, there are treatments to promote psychological healing as well."

Group counseling is the most effective form of support for trauma survivors because participants can relate the details of the event in a safe, supportive environment surrounded by other survivors. "Social isolation, or keeping one's feelings, memories and fears to oneself, will only exacerbate the symptoms," said Belaga.

Other forms of effective therapy: eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDS), which uses stimuli, such as tapping, eye movement or sound, to alternate attention across the midline of the brain. Psychotherapy, medication or a combination of treatments is also effective.

The one group at greatest risk for PTSD following Hurricane Katrina that might not seek help: displaced healthcare providers.

"The Mississippi Psychiatric Association took great pains to identify doctors who had lost their homes and/or offices and to provide them help," said Belaga. "Getting them back to work allowed them some sense of normalcy and gave them a sense of helpfulness."

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