After an earthquake, the brain may remain in 'constant danger' mode! 'Fear must be managed well'
Prof. Dr. stated that during an earthquake, the sympathetic nervous system in the brain is overactivated (pupil dilation, muscle tension, increased blood pressure), but once the danger has passed, the parasympathetic system should step in and provide relief. Tarhan continued: “In some people, the parasympathetic nervous system doesn't activate. They live with the constant feeling of threat and danger. In the face of a traumatic event, if the source of the fear is unclear, the first reaction is usually denial or rejection. However, if the fear is based on a concrete and undeniable source, such as an earthquake, the second reaction can be a depressive mood related to the event. This can manifest as outbursts of anger in some people, while in others, withdrawal. Subsequently, some individuals may experience a 'fight, flight, or freeze' response. Some individuals may experience temporary speechlessness or exhibit panicked behaviors such as jumping out of a window. All of these are typical reactions that occur in acute stress, and these reactions are expected to resolve within a few hours or a few days. However, if this situation disrupts the person's sleep pattern, if the person spends most of their time (for example, 50 minutes of an hour) thinking about the earthquake, or if they frequently experience flashbacks (i.e., if they experience re-experiencing the event at every moment of the event), "If the person has a feeling that it will happen again), if symptoms such as not being able to enter the house, constantly sitting on edge, a state of extreme alertness called 'hypervigilance' appear, or even if the person becomes afraid to sleep, the situation has become serious."
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