The notion of potential hurricanes lining up in the Atlantic raises the anxiety level for many in South Florida. So, how can you cope?
"The fear can be so overwhelming, it's debilitating," said Paul Schweinler, stress counselor.
Schweinler said, for a lot of people, the buildup to a hurricane is not healthy.
"You are not thinking straight. You start sweating. You find yourself worrying more. It is a survival mechanism. It's what we do to keep ourselves from imploding," Schweinler explained.
It's been 10 years since a hurricane hit Florida.
2004 saw four: Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne. The most recent were in 2005: Dennis, Wilma and Katrina.
10 years and no storms? Does the trend continue, or are we due?
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The National Hurricane Center's Dennis Feltgen talked about hurricane cycles that can run for decades at a time.
"The 70's, 80's and early 90's, barely a storm, then we got into the active cycle, again, in the mid 90's. Now whether we are out of it or not, that remains to be seen," Feltgen said.
Safety is critically important when it comes to hurricanes, so is a person's mental health. Experts suggest checking in on the news, but not being glued to it. They say eating right in anticipation of a crisis is important, so is drinking.
"I keep telling people your brain needs all the fluid it can get during these times, to help the brain chemistry get in the right part of the brain, but just remember just because something is liquid doesn't mean it's fluid," Schweinler said.
He recommends apple juice and soda, because alcohol can only complicate things, especially during a crisis.
For more tips and ways to stay safe during hurricane season, check out the NBC6.com special section featuring information on shelters, supply lists and more.
