Stating that severe earthquakes that occur suddenly and unexpectedly can cause trauma, experts state that 20 percent of people who experience an earthquake suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Pointing out that post-traumatic stress disorder is 2-3 times more common in women, Psychiatrist Dr. Erman Şentürk emphasizes that those who experience trauma after the earthquake experience effects such as feeling tense all the time, being afraid of being alone and going home. Şentürk strongly recommends that a specialist be consulted in cases that adversely affect the quality of life of the person.
Üsküdar University NP Feneryolu Medical Center Psychiatrist Dr. Erman Şentürk evaluated the psychological traumas caused by earthquakes.
Unexpected events create trauma
Stating that there may be many situations and events that cause distress and sadness in a person’s life, Dr. Erman Şentürk said, “In order for an event to create psychological trauma, the person must be in a very intense feeling of fear, horror or helplessness. At the same time, it is an important criterion in terms of evaluation that the person himself or his relatives live or feel the danger of death and injury. Some natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes and fires can cause trauma. Man-made wars, torture, rape, accidents, traffic accidents, work accidents, unexpected sudden deaths, serious and deadly diseases also lead to spiritual trampling. Two psychiatric conditions are frequently observed after mental trauma. “One of them is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the other is depression.”
These symptoms indicate depression
Psychiatrist Dr. Erman Şentürk said that intense unhappiness, pessimism, reluctance, malaise, not enjoying anything, not being interested in the things he used to enjoy, not making any plans and programs for the future, intense lack of energy, sleep and appetite changes are also observed very often in depression.
PTSD can last for many years
Stating that there are many people in the society who experience mental trauma, but some of them develop post-traumatic stress disorder, Psychiatrist Dr. Erman Şentürk said, “It is possible to say that post-traumatic stress disorder can last for many years and it is a disorder that can lead to serious loss of workforce. Studies show that 20 percent of people who experience an earthquake suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. Some people may be more prone to this condition, or some people may be more resistant to this condition. It is not easy for us to know in advance who will suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or who will experience it for a longer period of time, but there are some signals and symptoms related to this.”
PTSD is 2-3 times more common in women
Psychiatrist Dr. Erman Şentürk said that studies have shown that post-traumatic stress disorder is 2-3 times more common in women than in men. Dr. Erman Şentürk said, “People who have experienced a different mental trauma in the past, those who have had a mental illness in the past, and those who have psychiatric disorders in their relatives are more likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder.”
Those with a history of earthquakes are more prone
Psychiatrist Dr. Erman Şentürk warned, ‘The more severe the mental trauma is experienced, the longer and longer the effects are’ and said, “For example, a person who lost a loved one in an earthquake, compared to a person who did not, or whose house was damaged, who lost his house, does not experience these situations. According to people, the worst thing is that the person who is under the rubble can experience more severe mental trauma than the person who does not stay, so they are more prone to post-traumatic stress disorder.
Being alone is scary
Emphasizing that avoidance behaviors such as not going to the place where the event happened, trying to live as if the event did not happen, are more likely to cause post-traumatic stress disorder, Psychiatry Specialist Dr. Erman Şentürk said, “Especially after the earthquake, people can not stay alone in the house, feel the need to be with a relative all the time, feel very restless and nervous when their relative leaves the house, do not want to go inside the house, and go to their relatives are among the symptoms we observe very often.
Different treatments are applied according to the affected state.
Psychiatrist Dr., who also evaluated the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. Erman Şentürk said, “The most important situation here is how much the person is affected by the trauma. Information is generally sufficient for people who are little affected by trauma and can continue their lives as before. Counseling or a very short-term psychiatric treatment approach may be sufficient for people who are more affected by trauma, who experience symptoms but can continue to work. We recommend psychiatric treatment to people who are severely affected by trauma and experience severe symptoms, but still have a good job. Here, too, consulting plays an important role.”
If depression accompanies, drug treatment is necessary.
Psychiatrist Dr. Erman Şentürk said that psychiatric treatment is offered to people who are severely affected by trauma and have severe symptoms, and concluded his words as follows:
“If depression is also added to PTSD symptoms, we definitely recommend drug treatment. Antidepressant treatment is mostly used in drug treatment. At the same time, some anxiolytic treatments can be added. We know that besides drug treatments, therapies are also effective. In particular, the therapy method we call cognitive behavioral therapy helps people to overcome this process more easily.”
Source: (BYZHA) – Beyaz News Agency
