Surviving Southwest Florida After The Hurricane

"Which one?" you might be asking. Both Helene and Ian. Two days before the two-year anniversary of Hurricane Ian, Hurricane Helene sprang up almost overnight. Its path eerily familiar. Although struggling in some areas, surviving Southwest Florida after the hurricane is not only physical but also mental.

The devastation from Hurricane Helene in Florida and other southern states is heart wrenching. For many Southwest Floridians it's been another punch to the gut with yet another round of flooding and wind damage. Some had just finished Ian repairs. Others were still trying to reconcile the damage from two years ago.

Now it begins all over again.

We can all see the physical damage from these two storms. But we don't always see the internal damage, what's inside the hearts and minds of Southwest Floridians,

The actions of many people over the last week gave their secret away. Storm trauma is a real thing and time doesn't heal all wounds. On the anniversary of traumatic events, feelings tend to magnify. In this case, another major storm on the anniversary of Ian was stress on steroids for lots of locals.

I have friends who, two years later, still won't go out to the barrier islands. They've seen dozens of photos of what the storm did to the islands and that's enough. It's almost like, "If I don't see it in person, the carnage from Ian didn't really happen." But it did.

I go the islands often. Being a glass half full person, it has been hard to reconcile. I keep trying to be positive about the new construction, the lots that are now clear of debris and ready for their rebirth. Just look how beautiful the beach club is at Margaritaville Beach Resort on Fort Myers Beach:

Unfortunately, I can't help but see first and foremost all that is gone. Like The Cottage, The Beached Whale and hundreds more on Fort Myers Beach alone. For example, the photo below. I can't even remember what this business was:

It's not just buildings and businesses that still sit in ruin from Hurricane Ian. But also homes, both on land and on the water. Many people lived on their boats prior to the storm. Some of those boats ended up in mangroves, some were sunk and others relocated. Like this one.

The beach has always been my happy place. I love everything about it. I feel inspired looking at the water and rejuvenated by getting in it. However, when I go to local beaches now, I still can barely put my feet in that water.

Psychologists say we all suffered loss from Hurricane Ian, even if we don't realize it. Loss isn't just property, possessions or even people. It's also a loss of normalcy, loss of routine, loss of places and scenery that made you happy.

While going through Hurricane Helene, if you find yourself struggling emotionally or mentally and aren't sure what to do, there are lots of people and places that can help. You can click here for a few. Take good care of yourself and remember we are all in this together.