Suggestions for coping with earthquake fear!

Psychiatrist Dr. İpek Buse Güzelce made statements about the effects of natural disasters on mental health.

Drawing attention to the fact that psychological effects are inevitable in the face of natural disasters, Specialist Dr. Güzelce said, "Due to human nature, everyone experiences psychological effects to a certain extent in the face of disasters. In the geography we live in, we may experience psychological difficulties and show psychological reactions in the face of natural disasters, especially earthquakes."

Speaking about the negative situations that may occur after an earthquake, Specialist Dr. Güzelce said, "Reactions that you may experience immediately after an earthquake may include fear, not knowing what you are doing or where you are, not being able to feel your emotions, confusion and not being able to react. These reactions are defined as 'normal reactions to unusual situations'. For most people, these reactions gradually decrease and disappear in the first weeks after the event. The person can return to their pre-event state without the need for treatment or intervention."

"Nightmares may occur regarding the incident"

In addition to these reactions, symptoms such as remembering the event again and the event coming back to mind involuntarily may also be observed, said Specialist Dr. Güzelce, who shared the following information: "This situation is called 're-experiencing'. Even if the person does not want to remember the event, memories may come to their mind involuntarily. These memories may be very vivid and the person may feel as if the event is happening again. Physical symptoms such as anxiety, palpitations, and sweating may also be triggered with these memories. Nightmares related to the event may occur. In addition, reactions such as not being able to remember the entire event or some parts of it, not being able to enter the house where the earthquake occurred, not wanting to talk about the event, insomnia, irritability, and extreme startle may also occur. You may feel helpless in the face of what you have experienced and find yourself in pessimistic thoughts."

"Recommendations against reactions"

Expert Dr. Güzelce made the following suggestions on how we can manage our post-earthquake traumas and feel better: "Take care of your basic needs, especially try to balance your sleep and appetite. Allow your emotions; feelings such as sadness, anxiety, and fear are normal reactions. Do not hesitate to talk about your feelings and experiences with someone close to you who can listen. Try to return to your small daily routines. In cases such as insomnia and appetite changes that you may experience in the first days, be careful not to use sedatives or tranquilizers. Limit your exposure to images and videos of the earthquake. Try breathing exercises or relaxation techniques. Deep breathing can help the body relax and the mind calm down."

"It is normal to experience some complaints in the first weeks"

Emphasizing the situations in which expert support should be sought, Specialist Dr. Güzelce said, "It is natural to see these symptoms in the first weeks. However, if the complaints do not decrease in the following weeks, if they affect your life and make it difficult for you to adapt to your life, if there is no improvement in sleep and appetite changes, it would be appropriate to consult a mental health specialist."

Specialist Dr. Güzelce, who warned about negative symptoms that last longer than 1 month, said, "If these symptoms last longer than 1 month or become more intense instead of decreasing over time, this condition can be called Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Therefore, if the symptoms do not go away or continue to seriously affect the person's quality of life, it is very important to see a mental health professional. Getting early support facilitates the recovery process. PTSD symptoms can be experienced differently by each person. PTSD is a treatable condition; however, the probability of it going away on its own is low. Both medications and psychotherapy have a place in treatment."

"Treatment options"

Underlining that the basic treatment method for trauma-related mental disorders is psychotherapy, Specialist Dr. Güzelce listed the treatment options that can be applied as follows: "Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Trauma-Focused Therapies: Allows the person to cope with the trauma and reorganize their thoughts and behaviors.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): A specific therapy that helps make traumatic memories less disturbing.

Medication: In some cases, especially if symptoms of anxiety, sleep problems or depression are intense, medication support may be prescribed by a psychiatrist.

Specialist Dr. Güzelce concluded his statements by saying, "Every individual's needs are different. That's why treatment is planned specifically for each person."