Because of its geographical location, our country lies in a region highly vulnerable to earthquakes and frequently faces this disaster.
Certain mental disorders can develop in people exposed to such events, whether directly or indirectly. These mental disorders can occur not only in those directly exposed to the trauma but also in people who constantly follow the event on the news or discuss it with those around them.
We have recently faced another earthquake, something we have long accepted as a natural part of our lives. It is entirely natural to feel horrified and even lose our sense of safety after an earthquake that struck unexpectedly and caused devastating losses. Before discussing this further, there are, of course, certain elements that define an event as traumatic. Foremost among these is that the event falls outside the person's everyday experience. In addition, the intense physiological arousal caused by a traumatic event disrupts the accurate processing of information and, consequently, cognitive processes, making it difficult to make sense of the event. As a result, the person moves away from a healthy mental state, becoming more anxious and unable to manage their emotions.
Acute Stress Disorder
The more severe symptoms that some people experience (absent-mindedness, forgetfulness, confusion, an exaggerated startle response, hopelessness, etc.) are referred to as ‘Acute Stress Disorder’. These symptoms can sometimes persist for months or years, at which point they are referred to as ‘Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder’.
Without timely and appropriate intervention, it can become difficult to manage behavioral and cognitive responses such as sadness, anger, constantly thinking about the traumatic event, palpitations, disturbing dreams, sleep disturbances, crying spells, a frequent need to recount the traumatic experience, confusion, guilt, and feelings of loneliness. People may then engage in behaviors aimed at finding quick relief and forgetting those moments. Unfortunately, the solution we frequently encounter is alcohol and substance use.
Substance use disorder and earthquakes
It is known that three-quarters of people with an alcohol or substance use disorder also have another mental disorder. The two-way relationship between them can become a vicious cycle over time. For example, someone who is extremely anxious may turn to alcohol for relief and then continue drinking in larger amounts without recognizing the anxiety caused by alcohol. Rather than trying to resolve the question of which came first, the chicken or the egg, it is more useful here to understand the process that keeps this use going.
During such a period, repeatedly viewing earthquake-related images and being exposed to images of destruction can also lead to sleep and appetite problems, causing people to turn to unhealthy ways of coping.
Although the short-term relief provided by alcohol and substances may seem like an easy option to many people, healthier coping mechanisms need to be developed for the long term. For example, helping one another and sharing can reinforce a sense of capability among people in the earthquake zone, while also strengthening the feeling that they are not alone, the power of solidarity, and a sense of hope. Social support has a very important role in this respect.
Another important point is not to suppress sadness and emotions. Reaching out to other people or social support helplines, or staying in contact with support organizations in the area, can help a person feel better. Alongside this, individual approaches that people develop according to their own needs, such as prayer, walking, and taking pleasure in helping those around them, are also healthy coping mechanisms.
Clinical Psychologist Solin Çekin
