Survivors’ ThanksgivingHow disaster survivors survive Thanksgiving

This year’s rash of deadly natural disasters has displaced tens of thousands of people and shattered families across the United States. With the Thanksgiving holiday approaching, many will find it impossible to celebrate in their own home or be forced to face an empty seat once occupied by a loved one.

Dr. Joshua Klapow, a clinical psychologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, saidthis year’s holidays will be particularly challenging for broken families.

“For survivors of natural disasters earlier this year, this may be a very different holiday season; they’re grateful for their lives, but guilty that they survived when others didn’t,” Klapow said. “As families gather, many will be reminded of the ones who perished and will not feel holiday joy this year.”

As survivors struggle to piece their lives together, Klapow made several recommendations that would help ease them through Thanksgiving.

He said survivors must accept that this holiday will be like none other.

“Expecting everything to be the same will only lead to disappointment. Accept that this might be difficult, and prepare for the rushes of emotions that may occur,” Klapow said.

As a result, many survivors may not feel particularly festive and skipping out on events that do not sound appealing is completely acceptable, Klapow said. Instead survivors should only attend the events that they feel comfortable going to.

Klapow also noted that it is perfectly acceptable to cry and encouraged individuals to give themselves a moment to grieve before an event.

“When emotions are temporarily depleted, it makes it easier to take on the day,” Klapow explained.

Finally, survivors should also try to move on by modifying new traditions or creating new ones to honor the memory of those who died.

According to Klapow, the best cure in the end is simply time.  

“As the saying goes, time heals all wounds, and with each passing year, a new normal will begin to emerge,” he said.