How to Cope with Earthquake Trauma?

How to Cope with Earthquake Trauma? Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founder Rector and Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan evaluated the effects of earthquake trauma on individuals and approaches to coping with these effects.

Confronting trauma is critically important

Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that this period typically lasts between 7-14 days, during which excessive earthquake fear and avoidance behavior are observed, and continued: "Currently, this behavior continues to persist among those still in the region. People cannot enter their homes even though the structures are intact. In some families, children have left the area and moved to other cities while elderly family members remain behind. We see many examples of this. This is actually beneficial. It is important to be able to confront trauma rather than avoid it, to tolerate it and survive, to accept it despite everything and continue living."

We have performed well as a society

Tarhan stated that individuals must then take steps forward by saying "I have a safe harbor, I am secure, my basic needs are being met," adding: "In such situations, people seek a safe harbor. Here, it affects those in the region to feel that the state stands with them, that society stands with them, and to directly see and experience their actions on this matter. On this point, we have performed well as a society. There is great sacrifice, and this has also been reported in foreign media. We are also seeing the goodness of our society, the Anatolian wisdom being kept alive, those cultural values and beauties living, coming alive and being activated. This must continue. It has tremendous benefits for the people there. It has an indescribable positive effect on those people that leads them to love those lands, to remain there permanently, not to leave. This mutual aid behavior and sharing behavior..." he said. [caption id="attachment_149861" align="aligncenter"] Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan[/caption]

Acute traumatic stress disorder can persist in 25 percent of cases after three years

Referring to previous research on earthquake trauma, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated: "In the results of important research conducted in the region following the Kocaeli Gölcük earthquake, we see that after three years, symptoms referred to as acute traumatic stress disorder continue in 25 percent of cases. In studies conducted following the 2011 earthquake in Japan, acute stress disorder was found to persist in 12 percent of cases. In post-traumatic stress disorder, a person lives as if the earthquake happened yesterday rather than two or three years ago. They live with that fear constantly. A condition called flashback or re-experiencing occurs." he said.  

Children should be given a sense of hope and the possibility of a new path

Stating that after the recent earthquake disasters, acceptance of the event is necessary but planning for the future must also be undertaken, Tarhan said: "We must definitely create a Plan B and bring about renewal. It is especially necessary not to take away children's sense of hope. If we take this from children, if we speak hopefully and pessimistically, this causes the greatest harm to children, it wounds their developing spirit. Trauma does not wound, but those negative situations do. When wrong things are said to a child, trust weakens. We should not tell children white lies about death. An approach such as 'They embarked on a long journey, the journey of life, in the afterlife after death. They will not be able to come, but we will meet them later, we will go to them' is important." he said. Tarhan also stated that children should be given the sense that without falling into hopelessness, there is an option, hope, a new path, a new way out.