‘Unprecedented disaster’ causing stress and anxiety as some people turn to alcohol

A HEALTH survey has revealed 15% of those affected by the floods have suffered panic attacks.

Sleepless nights and irritability have affected 42% and 39% report having anxiety since the waters hit their homes.

More than one in eight also said they had turned to alcohol in their struggle to cope. And 16% said their personal relationships had been affected by the events, with 21% admitting to “crying a lot”.

The delay in getting back home was the single biggest cause of stress (45%) with many people citing the loss of personal effects (36%) and living in temporary accommodation (36%) as being very stressful.

Many people affected by the floods predominately found support by turning to friends for help (42%).

Paul Hendy, of the Scottish Flood Forum, who carried out the survey, said: “I have spent 12 years working in flood recovery across the UK and