In 2022, I was privileged to support people with their mental health following the October floods in Victoria. Once it was declared safe, mental health clinicians were on the ground quickly. What I witnessed then — and what I’m seeing again as Victoria faces devastating bushfires — is how complex and delayed grief, loss and trauma after natural disasters can be.
Survival Mode Comes First
When a natural disaster hits, people do what they need to do to survive. There’s often shock, adrenaline and action. People focus on immediate needs — safety, family, livestock, homes, businesses. For a while, emotions can feel muted or pushed aside because there simply isn’t space for them yet.
For some, shock shows up later. People may relive what they saw, heard, did and felt. This can come with shaking, crying or a sense of emotional overwhelm. Anger is also common — questions are asked, blame is assigned, and there’s a need to vent what feels deeply unfair.
All of these responses are normal.
The Hidden Weight of Loss
As soon as they can, people begin cleaning up and taking stock of what remains. This is often when grief really begins to surface. The reality of what has been lost — homes, livelihoods, livestock, memories — becomes clearer. Many people are also navigating insurers, builders, finances, housing, and trying to care for their families at the same time. It’s exhausting, and it takes a toll.
In my work after the floods, it was often many months later — sometimes a year on — that people began to recognise trauma. Rain became triggering. Sleep was disrupted by nightmares. Anxiety crept in. Images of loss felt impossible to shake.
Trauma Can Be Delayed
One of the hardest parts of recovery is that people may feel “okay” initially, only to struggle later. This is something I see often in the recognition of grief, loss and trauma after natural disasters. Emergency workers, too, carry their own layers of trauma after years of witnessing suffering.
Those not directly affected may move on relatively quickly. For those who are, the impact can last for years.
Compassion Matters — For Yourself and Others
Whatever someone’s experience, it deserves compassion. Grief and trauma don’t follow a neat timeline. Allowing space — for yourself or for others — to process what has happened is vital.
You don’t have to rush healing. You don’t have to justify your feelings. And you don’t have to carry it alone.
If you’re noticing things feel harder months down the track, please know that support can help — gently, at your pace.