The negative impact of the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquake, which took place in our country and affected many of our provinces, on the psychology of the society is seen not only in the earthquake region but also all over Turkey. The number of people who lost their family, loved ones and friends is increasing day by day. However, internalizing the fear of earthquakes too much can sometimes bring about physiological problems. Specialist from Memorial Bahçelievler Hospital, Department of Psychology. Ps. Ayşe Burcu Durak gave information about the impact of extreme fear of earthquakes on human health.
Earthquake fear is increasing rapidly
A person experiences a number of events throughout his life, witnesses some events and is affected by these events. As a result, he feels fear, anxiety and some other different emotions, as a result of which some diseases may occur. During his life, he may experience negative events such as the death of a loved one, wars, disasters (earthquake, fire, flood), accidents. The recent earthquake also had negative consequences in the lives of many citizens. Relatives of those who lost their lives may experience fear of earthquakes due to the anxiety of causing other losses, and those who do not live in the earthquake area may experience the same negative situations, fear of losing their family and relatives. Earthquake fear is seen in two ways; one is to be someone who has experienced the earthquake directly, and the other is to witness the earthquake indirectly through the news or social media. Being constantly uneasy, not being able to enter a closed space (claustrophobia), feeling of boredom and suffocation can be experienced due to the fear of earthquakes.
Our psychology affects our physiology
The psychology of being in a state of constant stress, such as fear of earthquakes, can cause physiological diseases in the person. The body’s exposure to chronic stress can cause different diseases.
Experienced events create stressful effects for the person. Everyone reacts differently to stressful events.
The basic response of our body to keep us alive in times of stress is called the “fight or flight response”. In such a phase, the person is in the alarm stage, this stage prepares the person for the fight or flight response that his body will give when he encounters a threatening situation, if the stress does not prolong, the person enters the adaptation stage and returns to the stage before the body was warned.
If the stressful situation is long-lasting and difficult to resolve, a number of physiological psychological reactions occur in the extended alarm state.
These reactions are;
- Sleeping disorders
- irritability, tension
- motor coordination disorders
- Tiredness
- depression
These responses play an important causal role for disease in many organs.
- in brain structure
- In the endocrine system
- neurotransmitter release and reuptake
- In the neuroimmune system
can cause various changes.
Beware of these diseases
In stress situations, the adrenal gland just above the kidneys produces cortisol. When the release of cortisol increases in an unhealthy way, it is difficult to fall asleep at night and get up early in the morning. These symptoms cause sleep apnea, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity and different diseases by the disruption of the circadian clock over time. In such cases, problems such as weakened immune system, cancer, metabolic diseases, depression, digestive system diseases, chronic pain in the muscles or migraine may occur. It is important to get expert help at the appropriate time so that our post-earthquake psychology does not cause physiological diseases.
Source: (BYZHA) – Beyaz News Agency
