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Earthquake and Coping Strategies

Like all known natural disasters, earthquakes are its unpredictable and inevitable occurrence that makes it difficult for people to deal with. Not being able to predict when and how this natural disaster will happen,

It creates feelings of helplessness and despair on people. At this point, of course, what needs to be done before, during and after the earthquake has been revealed by experts.

Being aware of these precautions and doing what should be done is one of the actions that will alleviate the negative effects of this disaster. Even though all this has been done, earthquakes are inherently a frightening and difficult phenomenon for human beings.

Natural disasters that cause unexpected and sudden loss of life and property can also cause the disappearance of the feeling of protection and security, the development of negative emotions and serious traumas. Since we do not know how to live with natural disasters such as earthquakes, which are one of the inevitable realities of our country and that do not prevent them, such traumatic experiences can leave long-term and permanent psychological effects besides their short-term effects. These effects can affect not only individuals who experienced an earthquake, but the rest of the society, even individuals who did not experience the earthquake and were born afterwards (Canel & Balcı, 2018). In this context, it has become necessary to produce strategies for dealing with earthquakes, both individually and socially.

Any activity related to the natural disaster earthquake, which may encounter unexpectedly that threatens the existence of people and disrupts their life, is important in terms of dealing with the earthquake. Apart from what the state and public institutions can do to overcome the problems related to earthquake, the coping behaviors of individuals or they can do are among the topics that can be examined (Kula, 2002). In this context, from preparing earthquake bags to creating a life triangle, from reinforcing buildings to receiving expert support after an earthquake, all activities are strategies to cope with earthquakes.

The first step of the mentioned coping strategies coincides with the pre-earthquake. It is very important for individuals to be informed about the earthquake in order to prepare themselves for the possible situation. "Readiness" is extremely important for people to recover and continue their lives after trauma. Earthquake-related improvement efforts in buildings, campaigns on how to protect against earthquakes, seminars, establishment of integrated emergency management systems from the government level to local governments are extremely vital and beneficial initiatives (İşmen, 2006). This emerges as a process that the public and individuals should carry out together. All these efforts can reduce the amount of loss that may be experienced after an earthquake and provide a certain level of readiness, and facilitate the formation of ideas about social support and importance in the post-traumatic recovery period (İşmen, 2006).

Another aspect of dealing with the negative effects of the earthquake is included in the period of the earthquake. Keeping calm during an earthquake, avoiding life-threatening moves and being able to manage this difficult process well will make it easier to cope with the earthquake and after the earthquake. Faulty moves made in panic during the earthquake can lead the earthquake victim to a feeling of regret that is difficult to overcome. In order to avoid this situation, it will be beneficial to participate in regular earthquake exercises and gain the practice of managing this process correctly.

The last and perhaps the most intense step of the process of dealing with an earthquake is after the earthquake. At this point, mental health services to be provided by experts come to the fore. Taking expert help for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety, insecurity and fear that may occur in the person after an earthquake accelerates and facilitates the transition to a healthy mood. In this sense; Mental health activities organized before the disaster, during the disaster and after the disaster are of great importance in terms of dealing with an earthquake.

These mental health studies also meet the social support needs of individuals. The social support to be created by the intervention studies prepares the ground for the assumptions that individuals who have experienced an earthquake during the recovery period are cared, the world is a good place and that they are valuable. These feelings and thoughts constitute an extremely useful resource for the person in the healing process (İşmen, 2006).

In conclusion, physical and psychological measures should be taken into consideration in coping strategies against earthquakes, which is a difficult phenomenon to cope with. Otherwise, individual and social injuries that are much more difficult to repair are likely to occur. At this point, it is important that people are open to support from both the social environment and experts. If all these are done, it is predicted that the negative effects of the earthquake can be minimized. You can contact me at +905447243650 for professional assistance, columnists, seminars, projects, live broadcasts, invitations to TV programs and cooperation regarding the psychological and sociological destructive effects of disasters such as earthquakes. Do not forget that these difficult days will pass. Sunny days are just ahead ... Stay in peace with yourself and your loved ones. Stay Good and Friendly ...

Prof. Dr. Ekrem Çulfa

Family-Marriage-Couples Consultant

References:

Canel, A.N. & Balcı, L. (2018). “Intergenerational Transmission of Earthquake Trauma” (Ed. Abidin Temizer - İbrahim Serbestoğlu) Multidisciplinary Studies-4 (Social Sciences). 2, 491-514.

İşmen, A. E. (2006). "Psychological Effects of Earthquake: Is Less Damage Possible?" Fırat University Journal of Social Sciences. 16 (1), 349-362.

Kula, N. (2002). “Earthquake and Religious Coping” Gazi University Journal of Çorum Faculty of Theology. (1), 234-255.