A family's loss of home due to a natural disaster can negatively impact a student's academic performance.
Lonnie, a college sophomore, was bereft when she first came to my office. Her parents’ Florida home had been destroyed by winds from a Category 5 hurricane. Fortunately, they had evacuated, but they were in severe financial and emotional distress. Lonnie was already living with theof evacuating her home in Texas while in high school due to a tropical storm, only to return to find the home destroyed by floods.
Lonnie was very much alone emotionally and financially. The financial assistance her parents had been providing before the storm now stopped. She told me she had experienced minor episodes of down mood andduring high school, which had subsided when she went to college. But with this recent loss, she was overwhelmed. She was sad and anxious much of the time, and most nights she had trouble falling asleep. She had triedLonnie rose to the challenge of remaining in school in remarkable ways.
. Check both temperature and humidity, as humidity will always make you feel warmer. Carry water with you. Stay hydrated. Walk in the shade.. Ask your doctor how your medication impacts heat regulation. You may need to be especially careful during warm days.. Talk with a therapist about how your life is impacted. See a psychiatric provider if you are experiencing severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, or. Many students take steps to address climate change.