Trauma; It is the experience of severe psychological distress that frightens the individual excessively, threatens his life, creates despair, and often occurs after unusual and unexpected events. Situations such as a natural disaster, war, torture, loss of a relative, traffic accident, sexual harassment and rape, seeing a dead body or body part can be given as examples of traumatic events that people cannot cope with, that affect them deeply and have direct effects on their mental health. Individuals exposed to trauma may experience this event in several different ways. An event can happen to a person directly, a person can witness such an event happening, or an event of this kind can happen to someone with whom the person has a close relationship. In addition, the person reacts to this event such as extreme fear, horror, and helplessness.
Natural disasters occur suddenly and affect many people at once. The consequences of natural disasters can cause serious damage to people. Earthquake is considered one of the most severe traumatic events, considering both its sudden occurrence and the impact it has on people's lives. The effects of the earthquake can last a long time due to the negative experiences following the earthquake, loss of life and financial losses during the earthquake. However, the psychological effects of traumatic events are not seen to the same extent in everyone. Research shows that characteristics such as being a woman, being a child or the elderly, being single, widowed or divorced, having a traumatic experience in childhood, low education level and poverty make people more sensitive to trauma and at risk.
After an earthquake, situations such as extreme fear, not knowing what one is doing or where one is, confusion, acting without thinking, not being able to feel one's emotions, and not being able to react may be experienced. A person who sees or learns that he has lost a relative may react suddenly and violently, or may not be able to express his sadness, such as freezing without any reaction or not being able to cry. He or she may not be able to accept that their relative has died, they may deny the situation, and they may feel as if the deceased will return at any moment. Feeling angry about what happened, rebelling, blaming others, trying to find a solution for what happened It is quite natural that all these reactions, such as feeling helpless, are seen in the first weeks of the earthquake in people who have survived the earthquake. It should not be forgotten that traumatic experiences are unusual and unexpected events in the course of life, so the reactions given are normal reactions to an unusual situation.
Although more than a week has passed since the earthquake, the physical and psychological effects of the earthquake can still continue. Symptoms of re-experiencing the traumatic event may occur. For example; Sometimes, the person may experience disturbing physical symptoms such as feeling like the ground is slipping under his feet, shortness of breath, and a tingling sensation, as he felt during the earthquake, when he encounters an image or news that reminds him of the earthquake, or even when the subject of the earthquake is brought up in a conversation. Continuous dreams about earthquakes may occur and sleep disturbances may occur. Another observed symptom is avoidance of stimuli that remind of the trauma. The person can avoid talking about the earthquake and avoiding people who remind him. He/she may avoid going to places that remind him/her and may not be able to enter the house where the earthquake occurred. There may be negative changes in feelings and thoughts. Symptoms of extreme tension, startling at the slightest sound, being constantly on edge, irritability, feeling like there is no future, feeling guilty about the loss of loved ones, and social withdrawal may be observed. Not knowing that all these psychological and physiological symptoms can be seen after an earthquake can sometimes cause people to think that they have lost control because these effects are only on themselves, to hesitate to tell others, to worry that there is something they cannot understand, and not to seek help.
The individual should not avoid talking about the incident with relatives and should maintain supportive relationships with family and friends. Social support has a healing effect on traumatic effects. It is very important to express our sadness instead of suppressing our emotions and considering it never happened. If entering closed environments or being in crowds is avoided, the person can try to enter these environments with his/her relatives until the anxiety decreases. Although there is a need to follow the news and images about the earthquake, paying attention to the duration of this You should not be exposed to it. It is recommended that people be directed to positive coping methods in their lives instead of using sedatives or alcohol for physical effects such as insomnia, stress, and loss of appetite. Returning to activities that are enjoyable and relaxing in daily life (such as spending time with friends, sports, being in nature, worship), breathing exercises and relaxation exercises may be beneficial in moments of anxiety. However, if the symptoms have not subsided after the first weeks, if they continue to be severe, if they disrupt family relationships, if they prevent the ability to do work, if the person's life is seriously affected by the earthquake, the person should not hesitate to seek professional help. Applying to centers where he can receive psychosocial support on this issue will be the first step in treating the effects of psychological trauma.
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