# Earthquakes and Their Psychological Effects - URL: https://alisanburak.com/en/deprem-ve-ruhsal-etkileri - Language: en - Last updated: 2026-09-15 - Page title: Earthquakes and Their Psychological Effects | Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alişan Burak Yaşar > Symptoms of psychological trauma caused by earthquakes, their evolutionary background, and approaches to coping and treatment. This page was translated automatically from Turkish. [Read the original](https://alisanburak.com/deprem-ve-ruhsal-etkileri) [← Back to blog](https://alisanburak.com/en/blog) # Earthquakes and Their Psychological Effects November 1, 2020Articles in Bilim ve Ütopya [Görsel: Earthquakes and Their Psychological Effects] *Prof. Dr. Tamer Aker (Marmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital), Specialist Dr. Alişan Burak Yaşar* In 1999, Türkiye experienced a devastating earthquake. This earthquake caused many losses and hardships. Twenty years have passed since then. As we will explain below, major earthquakes are considered major disasters, and disasters frequently cause psychological trauma. Following psychological trauma, people may remain affected by the trauma or experience post-traumatic growth. In 1999, just as international support arrived for food, supplies, and search and rescue, many mental health professionals, particularly from Israel and the United States, came to our country to provide training and interventions in the field. At that time, work on psychological trauma in our country was very limited and focused particularly on assault, war, and torture. Unfortunately, we were caught very unprepared for the earthquake in this respect. Today, however, we have reached a level of expertise that enables us to provide training on psychological trauma and disasters in countries near and far, from Pakistan to Iraq. This can be regarded as an example of post-traumatic growth. Unfortunately, our earthquake preparedness in other essential areas has not reached the same level. This article was prepared to convey accurate psychological and psychiatric information with the anticipated Istanbul earthquake in mind, drawing on scientific findings presented at the commemorative meetings, workshops, and symposium marking the 20th anniversary of the Marmara earthquake, organized in 2019 by the Association for Psychological Trauma and Disaster Mental Health Research. ## What Is Psychological Trauma? Traumatic events are events that threaten a person's life or physical integrity. Examples include natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods, wars, sexual or physical assault, childhood sexual abuse and rape, torture, abduction, traffic accidents, being diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, seeing a dead body or body part, and the disappearance or death of a loved one—distressing events that overwhelm a person's ability to cope. Psychological trauma commonly arises in the following four ways: - The person experiences the event directly. - The person witnesses such events. - The person learns that such an event has happened to a loved one. - The person is exposed to the event through their work. - What Is a Disaster? - Who Is at Greater Risk of Psychological Trauma? Certain characteristics can make people more vulnerable to psychologically traumatic events. For example, being female, single, widowed, or divorced; being a child or an older adult; poverty; a low level of education; and having had a difficult and traumatic childhood can increase vulnerability to any trauma. Environmental factors, such as inadequate social resources, being an immigrant or refugee, or even living in a developing or less developed country, also increase the risk of being affected. ## What Do People Experience After Psychological Trauma Such as an Earthquake, Including When Trauma Is Triggered? Following earthquakes and similar psychologically traumatic events, symptoms arise in the following categories. - Symptoms of re-experiencing the traumatic event - Symptoms of avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma - Negative alterations in mood and cognition - Symptoms of arousal Let us explore these in more detail. For example, someone has experienced a prolonged earthquake. Even when no earthquake is occurring, they may sometimes feel as though it is happening again. They may find themselves behaving as if another earthquake were taking place. Similarly, when they see an image that reminds them of the event, they may experience the same bodily symptoms they felt during the earthquake. For example, if they experienced shortness of breath and widespread tingling during the earthquake, they may experience that same breathlessness and tingling even during a conversation about earthquakes. These symptoms can be very distressing. People who are understandably unaware of the psychological basis of these symptoms may panic, thinking, “I am losing my mind,” “I am losing control,” or “Something is happening to me.” They may hesitate to tell others about this. These re-experiencing symptoms can also occur in dreams; continuing with the earthquake example, a person may repeatedly dream about earthquakes. This, too, may cause them to worry that something is happening to them. These are common re-experiencing symptoms. To avoid experiencing them, people may be reluctant to talk about earthquakes. If the trauma concerns something else, they may avoid seeing people who remind them of it. Indeed, if everyone reminds them of it, they may cut off contact with most people. They may avoid places that serve as reminders and try to stay away from related gatherings and locations. We refer to all these experiences as avoidance symptoms. People may find themselves doing this sometimes consciously and sometimes without realizing it. Trauma can also frequently cause negative changes in thoughts and emotions. Most simply, people whose sleep is disrupted and who withdraw socially because of avoidance behaviors may eventually feel lonely. Trauma can also frequently lead to unwarranted and unfounded feelings of guilt and worthlessness because of its biological and evolutionary underpinnings, which we will discuss later. This can be so irrational that, for example, people who were abused at the age of five may find themselves at the age of 50 believing thoughts such as “It was my fault,” despite knowing that this is illogical. We can classify these symptoms as negative alterations in mood and cognition following trauma. Finally, following psychological trauma—for example, an earthquake—a person may often find themselves startled by the slightest sound, constantly on edge, filled with unwarranted and seemingly senseless anger, or unable to experience their emotions. The slightest creak or any sudden noise may make them jump or provoke sudden anger. We call these arousal symptoms. These symptoms are common and normal following a psychologically traumatic experience. ## What Is the Evolutionary Significance of Psychological Trauma? Since this is not the subject of this issue, we will not examine these symptoms in detail, as we have discussed them extensively in previous issues. However, it is important to know that these symptoms are part of our nature. The human brain acquired these characteristics early in its evolution over thousands of years. Faced with the threat of annihilation or separation from its group, the human brain flagged critical scenes. After dangerous events, it leaves its last-resort survival alarm switched on. A relatively primitive, almond-sized region of the brain called the amygdala can short-circuit more advanced, modern, rational-thinking systems. It continually issues commands: “Do not forget the dangerous event,” “Stay constantly alert,” “Recall it at the slightest reminder,” “See it even in your dreams,” and even “Do not sleep if possible.” In fact, this is a crucial mechanism that kept us alive in the past. Today, however, these symptoms can interfere with modern life. They may prevent us from building a loving family to care for or from being productive. Moreover, in situations such as earthquakes in the modern world, they can undermine our ability to “develop sound solutions” and “assess the situation clearly,” abilities that would otherwise help us take measures to protect ourselves and those around us. ## How Long Do the Effects of Psychological Trauma Last? Nevertheless, having these symptoms during the event can sometimes be more useful than relying on our modern brain, which develops well-considered solutions. We may find this side of ourselves useful even in the modern world. For example, if we are undergoing an extremely painful experience during a traumatic event, these same mechanisms may render us unable to feel that pain. We may feel as though we are watching ourselves and the world through a camera from above. Or, if a sudden movement is necessary, this part of us may prompt a rapid action—right or wrong, potentially a life-saving one—before our rational side has time to perceive the situation and devise a solution. Although these symptoms are common during the first month, they gradually diminish afterward, perhaps because their protective effect decreases. This is why symptoms in the first month are called an acute stress reaction rather than an illness. They are an expected response and will probably subside and disappear. Simply knowing that this is normal and expected can sometimes be enough to reassure people, help them return to their lives, and ease their anxiety. ## What Can Be Done to Cope with These Symptoms? Since these normal symptoms often subside, no action is needed initially as long as they are not severe. Knowing that they are normal, and explaining this to those who do not know, is often sufficient. After disasters, a small minority of people may find that they continue to experience these symptoms. In such cases, when the symptoms impair quality of life, the ability to work, and family relationships, psychotherapy can be considered as an option. ## Whom Can People with Severe Distress Turn To? Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and EMDR therapy are particularly important for alleviating symptoms following such traumatic experiences. In cognitive behavioral therapy, people's unrealistic thoughts related to the trauma are examined, and the distressing emotions these thoughts generate are identified. Next, the people, situations, or places they avoid for the psychological reasons described above as avoidance and escape are explored, and exposure exercises that promote learning and the development of new meanings are used. EMDR therapy, meanwhile, aims to desensitize traumatic effects by processing distressing images using the desensitizing effects of bilateral stimulation. People with mild symptoms who fall between these two groups—those with severe symptoms and those with none—are often advised to return to activities they previously enjoyed, exercise if possible, and set aside fulfilling time with their families. The books Travma Sonrası Stres Bozukluğu Belirtilerini anlamak, published by Psikonet; Beden kayıt tutar, published by Nobel; and Kaplanı Uyandırmak, published by Butik, may be helpful reading about these symptoms. In summary, after earthquakes and similar disasters, people may experience symptoms such as fear, disrupted sleep, and reduced participation in activities they previously engaged in, and these are often normal. Symptoms related to an earlier traumatic event may also flare up again when something serves as a reminder. These symptoms generally diminish over time after the first month. Even if they cause a sense of losing control and panic, knowing that these are natural processes can help restore our sense of control. They are our body's way of alerting us so that we can survive. Anxiety and fear at appropriate levels, without impairing quality of life, can guide us toward making critical decisions. Knowing that these responses are normal as long as they do not impair our quality of life and daily activities can both help them subside and help us adapt to the world around us. --- *This article was first published in a 2020 issue of Bilim ve Ütopya.* [← Previous Recommendations for Clinicians](https://alisanburak.com/en/klinisyenlere-oneriler)[Next → The Psychology of Those Interested in Parapsychology: “Norms” Become “Normal” Over Time](https://alisanburak.com/en/parapsikolojiyle-ilgilenenlerin-psikolojisi) --- Kaynak / Source: https://alisanburak.com/en/deprem-ve-ruhsal-etkileri İletişim / Contact: Bağdat Caddesi, Veli Güneysu Apt. No:453 K:4 D:9, Suadiye / Kadıköy, İstanbul · +90 532 642 95 25 · info@alisanburak.com · https://alisanburak.com/bagdat-caddesi-psikoterapi-iletisim