After the recent Elazığ earthquake, which caused serious losses, Manisa started to shake constantly and create earthquake phobia in people. On the other hand, the corona virus, which appeared suddenly and spread rapidly, caused panic in people. It is a very human fear to create anxiety about the future due to the fear of losing our health and life, but if this is constant and causes intense anxiety in the person, it can lead to problems. If people worry about an earthquake every day, or feel like they are shaking at any moment, or approach everyone with suspicion because they have the virus, and as a result, they direct their lives negatively in an excessive and dysfunctional way, then alarm bells are ringing. While it is normal to act consciously and take precautions against earthquakes and viruses, it is not easy to reduce the level of fear that paralyzes a person's life due to intense anxiety.
While the earthquakes are of such a nature that they shake our balance as many people, especially at the time of the event. It affects everyone, whether nearby or not. It should not be forgotten that not everyone shows the same reaction at the same time and with the same continuity. In trauma, it is possible to experience an impact at the time of the experience or after the experience. Traumatic events can cause different reactions in people at different periods.
Excessive voltage blows the fuse, so the brain is constantly stimulated in traumatic events and may not be able to protect itself by having difficulty processing. It is normal for the process, which we call the Shock Period, to be felt for a month, after which the effects begin to decrease. During the shock period, the switches are off, that is, it is a period of withdrawing into one's own shell, where talking is not desired. Then complex emotions (guilt, fear, terror) begin. A more angry and combative period begins. You may experience distraction, difficulty remembering, increase or decrease in appetite and sleep, and all living conditions may begin to deteriorate. In fact, all of these symptoms are normal because what is happening is abnormal. Explosions, accidents, death tolls, etc. These events that occur every day are not events that can be normalized, but rather disrupt our balance.
So what can be done now? It would be useful for people who are not at the scene to focus on how they can support those who are. He was especially there for the person who experienced the incident. Make you feel like you are. Consulting a psychologist or psychiatrist for such problems will be the first step to solving them. Because it is possible to treat the symptoms that occur after trauma. Please do not hesitate to talk, share, and seek support in order to benefit from these treatments.
Things Not to Do or Say to People Experiencing Trauma
First of all, "I understand you." There is no use saying '. It is not possible for us to understand the event until we experience it.
Do not react with prejudice.
Do not stigmatize.
It is necessary to talk but not to force someone to talk. Remember that they do not have to explain.
Try to be with them. It is important to ask if they need food, sleep or anything else.
Expressions such as "Don't be sad, don't cry" will not be useful, on the contrary, it is beneficial not to cry and suppress the pain.
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Sentences like "It could have been worse."
Do not say, "You are strong, you will get through it." Nobody has to be strong.
"Try not to think about the incident, let's talk about something else." It will not have any effect.
one more sentence...
Just listen and try to understand. Make sure that they feel safe and that their hopes are not lost.
And don't hesitate to get support from an expert.
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