Reduce your stress when a hurricane threatens

STUART - When faced with hurricanes -- especially if you have already experienced them -- a certain amount of anxiety is normal, even healthy, said Nadir Baksh, a clinical forensic psychologist in Stuart.

"It's what motivates us to board up our homes, to take care of our children and families," Baksh said. "It leads to productive behavior. But if that anxiety goes over the top, it can lead to a sense of being paralyzed, helpless."

Signs of hurricane anxiety include sleeplessness, hyperventilating, muscle tension, stomach aches and headaches, said Connie Cobiella, a Jensen Beach psychologist. Not to mention obsessing about forecasts.

"If you need to go pick up your kids from school but can't pull yourself away from the TV, watching for the next prospective track, you're losing your perspective, losing your balance," Cobiella said.

Experts agree that the best way to relieve hurricane anxiety is to be prepared for upcoming storms.

"Usually, the anxieties are lessened by preparing for the storm," said Dr. Gus Espinosa, clerkship director of psychiatry at the Florida State University College of Medicine Fort Pierce Regional Campus. "The more prepared you are, the less stressed you'll be."

Not that you can over-prepare. But Dr. Anita Cocoves, administrator of the Martin County Health and Human Services Division, said it is possible to obsess about hurricane preparation.

She told of a resident on a fixed income who spent $600 on hurricane supplies.

"You can only use so many flashlights and batteries," Cocoves said.

Typical stress relievers -- stretches, exercise, listening to music and other distractions -- work for hurricane anxiety as well, but a popular one does not.

"Now is not the time to increase alcohol use," said Carolyn Kravitz, clinical director of the Indian River County Mental Health Association.

And talking about hurricanes can be helpful -- to a point.

"Have people talk about other subjects as well," said Cobiella. "Obsessing only escalates anxiety."

Also, children can pick up on their parents' hurricane anxiety.