Poignant column about Charley's emotional aftermath.

[madfloridian]

It's a Survivor Thing -- You Won't Understand

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040827/COLUMNISTS0501/408270371/1106/NEWS

SNIP..."For years, I have dealt with the problems of life by writing about them. When things go wrong, I look for the humor in the situation, write about it and -- in the process -- feel a little better.

Hurricane Charley overwhelmed that therapeutic aspect of writing. That damned storm put a dent in my psyche that I'm still trying to pound back out...."

SNIP..."Initially, there was euphoria from simply having made it through the storm. You looked around and quickly realize that others had it worse. But heat, lack of electricity, cleanup, repairs, waiting in line for ice and water and a lot of other things needed for the basics of life take a toll.

Sleep deprivation leads to anxiety and depression. And there is well-founded stress caused by an afternoon thundershower -- if your roof is a series of plastic tarps.

All that leads to a collective anger. Almost everyone I talked to this week was mad because "they" -- whoever or whomever or whatever -- didn't understand our pain....."