It seems like there is little escape from natural disasters this year, whether it be earthquakes, tsunamis, or tornadoes. Yesterday, tornadoes made their way through 6 southern states, leaving behind an immense path of destruction. In addition to the massive property damage, as many as 231 people are confirmed dead as a result of the storms. You can read more about these storms at CNN.com. Natural disasters such as these tornadoes have the high potential to lead to post-traumatic stress disorder. Therefore, it is very important to take steps to implement healthy coping strategies, which may mitigate this risk. This article from About.com provides ways of coping with natural disasters.

It has been one year since the Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. The effects of this event were wide-spread and far-reaching. First, the explosion itself lead to the loss of life and potentially the development of PTSD among those who made it through the explosion. The resulting oil spill devastated the communities along the Gulf Coast, negatively impacting the fishing and tourism trade that many of those communities depend on. In addition, many of the communities affected by the oil spill were the same that were hit hard just a few years back by Hurricane Katrina. So, how are these communities doing now? You can read more about the lasting effects of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, as well as signs of hope for these communities in this article from CNN.com. If you were affected by the Deepwater Horizon disaster, share your experiences in the About.com PTSD Forum.

Bullying happens more than you may realize. In the United States, it is estimated that between 15 to 25% of students are frequently bullied. So, what is bullying? Bullying is considered a repeated and intentional act of aggression where one or more people plan to harm or upset another person physically, verbally, or psychologically. Being the victim of bullying can have a tremendous negative impact. Numerous studies on the effects of bullying have found that victims of bullying may be more withdrawn, depressed, anxious, insecure, lonely, avoidant, and shy. However, the effects of bullying can be overcome. Were you a victim of bullying? How did you cope with and overcome the effects of bullying? Share your coping strategies with other readers. Read more about bullying, what it is, and its consequences.

I came across a very interesting article on the website, Gift From Within, about coping with a partner's PTSD. PTSD does not occur in a vacuum. In addition to causing considerable distress within the person who has the diagnosis, PTSD can also have a significant impact on family members and friends. When a loved one has PTSD, it can drastically change the relationship and result in considerable emotional distress for all parties involved. You can learn more about understanding PTSD in a loved one, as well as coping with caregiver burden, at About.com. You can also access additional excellent articles on PTSD from Gift From Within. Gift From Within is a non-profit organization for people suffering from PTSD and their families. Their website provides a number of helpful resources, including links to an international network of survivors willing to provide peer support.