PERRY CO., Ky. (WYMT) — Severe weather season peaks in March, April, and May, and for many people in Eastern Kentucky who have experienced major floods and tornadoes in recent years, it brings more than just concern about forecasts.
A psychiatric nurse practitioner at Primary Care Centers of Eastern Kentucky said storm-related anxiety is common in the region.
“A lot of people suffer from PTSD and anxiety related to that. It’s really hard this time of year. I feel like March kind of ramps everything up. So, definitely, you know, if you are having fear and worry about weather, if you’re constantly checking the weather apps and the radar, and you’re kind of concerned about the weather, then definitely reach out to someone,” said Ashli Mullins.
Mullins explained that worrying about the weather is normal, but people should seek help when anxiety begins to interfere with daily life. She recommended several coping strategies.
“Deep breathing, grounding, such as sometimes you can think about things that are around you in the room, and that kind of calms you down a little bit. Also, therapy. We have multiple therapists here that you can reach out to, and they can do, like, exposure therapy, cognitive therapy,” Mullins said.
She also noted that psychiatric nurse practitioners can provide medication management if needed for storm-related anxiety.
National Weather Service Jackson service hydrologist Pete Geogerian emphasized the importance of preparation during severe weather season.
“The nice thing about plans is that you can practice them anytime, right? You don’t have to wait until the weather hits or things are about to get bad before practicing these plans. You know, so, you know, have a safe place to go. The more that you practice, the better it’s going to be for anxiety,” Geogerian said.
Mullins added that while staying informed is important, people should set limits on how often they check weather updates to avoid becoming overwhelmed.
“I feel like a good thing to do maybe would be to set specific times, such as, hey, I’m going to look at 8 o’clock, 12 o’clock, 3 o’clock, that kind of thing, just to kind of give your mind a break from it. And that way you’re still aware and you are, you know, in the know with the updates and what’s coming, but it’s not consuming your mind,” Mullins said.
The National Weather Service recommends receiving alerts from multiple platforms to stay updated with the latest information.
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