(Host) As Vermonters try to recover and rebuild, therapists worry about escalating depression and anxiety.
As VPR’s Nina Keck reports there are ways to help.
(Keck) Peggie Bauman is a psycho therapist in Rutland who treats people who suffer from depression and anxiety – illnesses she expects to see a lot more of considering how many unknowns Vermonters are dealing with.
(Bauman) "How will the kids get to school today, the bus routes? How are the teachers supposed to respond? Many,many human issues that are deep-rooted, yet everyone is trying to do their daily routines. So there’s a real, paradox of emotion – relief, fear; it’s almost surreal walking around. Thoughts for the future- I talked to someone who had to hike in to work yesterday from Killington and she looked like she was in shock – really quiet."
(Keck) Bauman says most of us have a strong desire to help or respond in some way with food, clothing or monetary donations. In communities like Rutland that have a shortage of drinking water – Bauman says turning off the faucet can make people feel as though they’re at least doing something. She says while most people don’t have a backhoe or dump truck to put into action – everyone can take the time to listen.
(Bauman) "People really have a need to talk about how this whole issue has had an impact on them. in my line of work, I think listening to each other, really taking time to listen so the stories can start to come out and people’s feelings can start to come out is something we can do now very easily."
(Keck) She says it can be as easy asking someone how they’re doing while waiting together in a check out line.
For VPR news, I’m Nina Keck in Rutland.