On February 6, we witnessed the earthquake disaster that claimed the lives of thousands of people and devastated countless communities. Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquake inflicted wounds that would not heal in 10 provinces of Turkey. The 7.7 magnitude earthquake destroyed a large part of our country and claimed too many lives to count.
And now, the survivors must face the consequences of the terrible tragedy; From mourning those lost in the earthquake, facing the debris left behind from their habitats and starting over, picking up the pieces of their own personal destruction, which is perhaps the most difficult…
We see photos of the buildings destroyed, people in distress, animals and the heroic actions of the rescuers in the wake of this harrowing disaster. But what we cannot see or understand is the lasting effects of an earthquake on survivors. Often we cannot look inside their thoughts and feelings; We can only imagine the effect of such a devastating thing on a person. In this process, psychologist support becomes very important to help survivors cope with the psychological effects.
You or someone close to you may be experiencing some of these most common effects after a major earthquake. Please do not hesitate to seek treatment.
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EARTHQUAKE PHOBIA
Experts say the focus with this phobia or fear is the desire to control the possibility of experiencing another earthquake. However, this is clearly out of our control and impending failure is cause for concern.
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MENTAL BARRIER
It is typical for survivors of earthquakes and other natural disasters to constantly relive the event in their head. They should strive to return to some sense of normalcy as it will help them be more secure in their environment. It’s necessary to have a routine as soon as possible to help and make sure they stick to it.
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ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION
It is not unusual for a person to show signs of anxiety and/or depression after their life has been threatened and turned upside down by an earthquake. Two diseases; It shows similar symptoms such as fatigue, loss of sleep, decreased interest in daily activities, irritability and inability to concentrate. These symptoms may come and go over time, but it’s important to seek treatment if they prove to be permanent.
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HYPERVIGILANCE
Survivors of earthquakes often experience extreme alertness. Any little noise will make you run for cover. A well-meaning but unexpected touch from a loved one can make you scream in fear. This is because your body is on high alert to another threat to your safety, which can make you feel tense and nervous. Typically, this reaction goes away on its own, but if it doesn’t, it could be a symptom of something much more serious, such as PTSD Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
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PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
Most directly affected people exhibit many psychological symptoms similar to PTSD. The majority recover, but a minority get stuck somewhere in the healing process and continue to develop PTSD. Symptoms of PTSD include intense fear, flashbacks, and nightmares. This is the most severe and permanent psychological effect that an earthquake can have on an individual.
