Project Recovery

And so we stagger to begin yet another stage of the recovery of the Gulf Coast: our mental and emotional recovery. We have talked now for months about the lunacy - we admit that we're stark-raving mad most days... But I believe that those of us who happily admit that we're a bit off these days are actually the lucky ones. There is a deep-seated depression among so many. The feeling is almost tangible.

Those of us who are self-aware enough to feel it coming on keep ourselves insanely busy in an attempt to ward it off. We fear quiet moments when everything comes flooding in again and again. It is far from over.

Yesterday a car pulled up at the front of our house and I watched a young man and woman exit the vehicle with clipboards and start walking door-to-door on our block. Our house was their last stop. Barbara and Michael said they were with "Project Recovery" and were out checking to see how everyone was doing. Hearing that alone is enough to make me feel better.

They left me with a brochure that reads: "Project Recovery staff are available to individuals, families, community groups, businesses and service organizations at no charge for the purpose of realizing wholeness and coping with the devastation of Hurricane Katrina."

It also lists some common reactions to stress and states: "People feel and express their reactions to a crisis differently. They may....

Feel very nervous, helpless, fearful or angry
Feel hopeless about the future
Feel detached or unconcerned about others
Feel numb and unable to experience love or joy
Be irritable or have outbursts of anger
Become easily upset or agitated
Have frequent distressing dreams or memories
Avoid people, places and things related to the disaster
Have difficulty concentrating
Feel their words are distorted or unreal ... "

If you or anyone you know feel that you may benefit from Project Recovery services - please give them a call at 1-866-856-3227. Hang in there. There are brighter days to come again.

(Project Recovery is funded through a grant by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and facilitated with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Project Recovery is a division of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health.)