Storm’s damage can be mental

By Lori Kurtzman and Rita Price

Friday July 6, 2012 7:50 AM

NEWARK, Ohio As houses and businesses in most central Ohio neighborhoods regain power, those without electricity continue to crowd their porches and watch for utility trucks, hoping their homes are next. Some are growing used to nights in the dark and days in the oppressive heat. Others are getting angry.

Oh, its building, said Gabriel Burgoon, who spent another day without power in Newark. Meanwhile, the neon signs glowed at the drive-through beer store just down the road. Im mad.

Who are you mad at, Dad? asked his 16-year-old son, Bradley, sitting beside him on their porch.

Everybody, at the moment, Burgoon said.

Storms dont have to be lethal to pack an emotional wallop, experts say. When daily routines are knocked out of whack, when comforts slip maddeningly beyond reach and when danger lurks, many of us cant maintain an even keel.

Our anxiety level goes up, our irritability level goes up, our stress level goes up and we sort of lose our sense of predictability, said Dr. Alan Levy, a Columbus psychiatrist.

The fact that we know what to anticipate means a lot to our psyche.

Naturally, some people manage better than others, and Levy said that probably has a lot to do with basic personality.

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Storm’s damage can be mental