Earthquake deeply shakes people's lives and affects them psychologically due to the destruction it causes in the geography in which it is located. After an earthquake, situations such as physical injury treatments, shelters, and life saving are generally more involved, while psychological situations are often left alone. The effects of the earthquake on human psychology and child psychology are quite profound. Some situations occur after an earthquake. Self-blame, sleep problems, anger and loss of appetite, distraction, nightmares, feeling of being shaken, constantly remembering the event, being easily startled, not being able to make plans for the future, alienation (feeling that others do not understand me or what I am going through), feeling restless and avoiding situations that remind me of the event. . Normalization is important so that the psychological damage of the earthquake is not deep. It allows the person to re-examine, describe and reenact the event he/she experienced and enables him/her to control his/her thoughts. It is important for him to communicate with those around him without suppressing his emotions. Another important part is to return to routine as much as possible after the earthquake. The person is encouraged to continue the routines he/she established during the day, as long as the post-earthquake conditions and conditions are possible. “There was an earthquake, you were scared. Very normal. Doing the exercise "Find and accept the thing you fear most, the emotion you experience now" is very productive for the acceptance of emotions.
What happens in the psychology of children who experience an earthquake?
The reactions and interpretations of children who experience an earthquake vary depending on their age. Children are inexperienced in expressing their feelings. It is very valuable for children to cry, shake, react, write, draw, and most importantly, play. Play is the child's language, toys are his words. Children make sense of their fears, anger and the situation they experience through play. The child wants to feel safe, creating special time for the child, talking to him, listening to him, and doing activities will contribute to solving the problem in a short time. In severe cases that last more than two weeks, they should seek professional support. If this trauma is not resolved, depression and anxiety may occur in the future. At the same time, school success and It can negatively affect their cognitive development.
What are the points we should pay attention to when talking about an earthquake with children?
-First of all, let them live their fears, let them cry, shake, talk, write. Let them draw and play. Use the healing power of the game.
- You can explain the earthquake to children in a simple language appropriate to their age.
- You can reassure them and make them feel safe by talking about your precautions.
- Keep your children away from images that you think they cannot handle.
-Children take their parents as role models, so it is important to maintain your calm as an adult, but you can also talk about your feelings to your children.
Emotional healing occurs differently in all individuals. There is no standard method for coping with trauma. The psychological effects of trauma may not completely disappear. However, they react less violently during the healing process. Emotional recovery can come with ups and downs. It may manifest itself again during a stressful event. In this context, setting goals for recovery and disclosing one's feelings to reliable people makes healing easier.
A child or adult who does not want to talk about the earthquake should not be forced. He should know that he can easily express his feelings when he wants, and this environment of trust should be provided. After traumas, "reluctance towards the future" often occurs. Efforts should be made to get them back into their routine, and the importance of making an effort should be explained. Recognizing these and seeking solutions will make healing easier.
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