Hurricane Season in Houston: From Childhood Joy to Adult Anxiety
By: MaCae Bairett, MFT Student Intern
Specializing in anxiety, ADHD, and the relational patterns that impact emotional well-being.
Growing up in South Houston, hurricane season felt like a neighborhood celebration. There was no school, the air smelled of smoked meat wafting from my neighbor’s porch, and folks gathered for spontaneous street potlucks. Neighbors mingled, kids played, and memories were made.
As a teenager, I volunteered with my church’s clean up efforts. Honestly, I was excited to be with my friends and use power tools, not fully aware of the weight of what we were doing.
(I am not pictured here, but I participated in clean up effort after Hurricane Ike in 2008) Link
Now, as an adult, hurricane season feels different. The anticipation is mixed with anxiety, and the possibility of loss feels more real. While I still look forward to serving others in times of need, I also recognize how often mental health during natural disasters gets overlooked.
The Emotional Cycle of Natural Disasters
Before the Storm: Anticipation and Anxiety
The lead up to a hurricane often brings heightened anxiety. Constant news coverage and reminders of past storms can magnify fear. In hurricane prone areas like Houston, even a forecast can stir up dread.
After Impact: Depression, PTSD, and Guilt
Research shows that hurricanes and flooding are linked to elevated rates of depression and post traumatic stress. Nearly one third of disaster survivors may experience lasting mental health effects such as PTSD, anxiety, or depression (PubMed, 2024).
Even those spared major damage may feel survivor’s guilt when others nearby lose everything.
Memory and Anticipation: Anxiety in Waiting
Past experiences don’t just fade. Each new storm can resurface painful memories, making the waiting period emotionally exhausting.
Looking Back Through a Psychological Lens
My childhood memories highlight how powerful social support can be: spontaneous gatherings, shared meals, and neighbors helping neighbors. Research confirms that these protective bonds reduce long term mental health struggles after disasters.
Volunteering as a teen gave me belonging and purpose. As an adult, my perspective shifted: the same storm that once felt like an adventure now carries both fear and responsibility.
Coping Strategies for Hurricane Season
1. Stay Connected
Reach out to neighbors, friends, or church groups. Preparing and recovering together helps reduce isolation.
2. Maintain Routines
Good sleep, balanced meals, exercise, and breaks for rest protect your mental health.
3. Practice Stress Relief
Mindfulness, deep breathing, or grounding exercises can help calm anxious thoughts.
4. Get Support
Therapy, peer groups, or crisis lines provide safe spaces to process stress.
5. Reframe the Experience
Look for meaning in the challenges. Serving others, building resilience, and strengthening bonds can turn stress into purpose.
6. Use Psychological First Aid (PFA)
PFA focuses on comfort, safety, and connection after a disaster without forcing conversations about trauma too soon.
How Therapy Can Help
Therapy is a powerful tool for managing anxiety in daily life, and it can be especially important during hurricane season.
Therapy can help by:
- Teaching practical skills like grounding and mindfulness to manage anxiety in the moment
- Using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to reframe unhelpful thought patterns that fuel worry
- Providing space to process trauma, grief, or survivor’s guilt after a storm
- Building resilience by exploring values, strengths, and community connections
- Offering support through individual, family, or group sessions
Having a professional walk alongside you can make hurricane season feel less overwhelming and help transform anxiety into preparation and purpose.
Resources for Hurricane Season
Final Thoughts
What once felt like a holiday as a child now feels like a season of mixed emotions as an adult. Hurricanes bring the potential for fear, anxiety, and loss, but they also highlight the strength of resilience, community, and preparation.
By combining coping skills, therapy, and practical resources, we can take care of both physical safety and emotional well being. In doing so, Houston communities can continue to stand strong, together, even in the face of the storms ahead.
By: MaCae Bairett, MFT Student Intern
Specializing in anxiety, ADHD, and the relational patterns that impact emotional well-being.
At Therapy for Families, with locations in League City, The Woodlands, and Midland, Texas, we support individuals and families in navigating life’s challenges, including the stress and anxiety that can come with hurricane season. Our counselors offer a full range of mental health services, including anxiety management, couples counseling, teen therapy, play therapy, and trauma-focused care. We help clients address concerns such as stress, school-related pressures, grief, self-esteem, impulse control, peer relationships, family conflict, parenting challenges, ADHD, coping strategies, and recovery from trauma or domestic violence.
Whether you are preparing for a hurricane, recovering from its impact, or managing anxiety in daily life, our team can help you build resilience, strengthen connections, and develop practical strategies to support your mental and emotional well-being. Visit Therapy for Families & ADHD & Neurofeedback Clinic to learn how we can guide you and your family toward a sense of calm, safety, and emotional health.