Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, evaluating the psychology of children who emerged from the rubble days after the earthquake in Izmir, points out the importance of family and close environment support for children in the following period.
Noting that the brain shuts itself down as a defense mechanism in cases of strong trauma, Tarhan reminds that the reactions after the earthquake are normal, and that expert support is important for effects lasting longer than 6 weeks.
Üsküdar University Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan made evaluations on the psychology of children who were most affected by the earthquake that occurred in Izmir on Friday, October 30, resulting in the death of 114 people and the injury of thousands of people.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, who made evaluations especially on young children who were pulled out from under the rubble after days and their psychology, said: "Elif Perinçek, 3 years old, was rescued after 65 hours. Ayda Gezgin, the same age, was rescued after 91 hours. This means almost two days, three days. The fact that a child can stay alone in an isolated environment for three days in a dark and uncertain environment. This situation is certainly traumatic for the child. But the fact that children come out alive from under the rubble, and that they receive very good care after they come out, is an approach that will help resolve this trauma."
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan reminded that the children were luckily rescued without any injuries and said that this of course reduced the trauma burden for the children.
The next attitude of the environment is important
Stating that children in this age period do not yet have a perception of reality, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, "If we think about the mood of children, they are waiting in a dark environment and they cannot explain it. The child has not yet formed a perception of reality at the age of 2 or 3. The child cannot define such a situation but is waiting. This situation may cause trauma in the child. What is important here is how the child's environment analyzes this event. In this uncertainty, if the message is given that he was saved at the end, if it is turned into a sense of hope and confidence that the end is good, this trauma can be turned into a resistant education."
Positive messages should be given to the child
Noting that the support of their families and close environment is important for children to return to normal life after such traumatic events, Tarhan said: "The children feel safe now. They have experienced great fear, but they have finally survived and everyone has started to pay more attention to them, maybe they have started to be cherished more. In some cases, children may see these traumas as learned behaviors and may unknowingly use them as a childish defense to attract attention. For this reason, the family and relatives should give the message "You had such a trauma, but you overcame it. You are fine now' message should be given."
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that the information about death should be explained to the child in a way that he/she can understand, otherwise the child experiences a greater loss of control when faced with this reality.
The joy of surviving makes it easier to resolve past trauma
Stating that the sense of attachment in children is very important, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, "The image of the rescuer hugging the children's finger, which has become the symbol of the earthquake, actually expresses everything. Hugging the rescuer's finger, the child has a need for attachment. Here the child has a great need to relieve loneliness. He has experienced serious fear and as a result of that fear, he is saved. The joy of being saved makes it easier for him to resolve the past trauma. What can happen to this child next? He may have a fear of being alone. There may be a fear that no one should leave his/her side, and he/she may constantly experience this in the form of reliving the earthquake."
Emphasizing that traumas experienced in childhood affect the individual in the future, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, "It can have the effect of physical trauma. For this, a safe environment must be provided right now."
This trauma taught us all to be prepared
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that the Izmir earthquake made it clear that sometimes in life there are events that cannot be avoided, unpredictable situations can occur, and that these are realities. "This event and this trauma taught us all that we need to be prepared for the uncertainties we will face in life. From now on, we need social support that keeps the sense of hope and confidence for the future high."
It is necessary to return to normal in 6-8 weeks
Stating that the effect of trauma can last for 6 weeks, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, "This should not be exaggerated. This is usually a 6-week process. It is natural to talk about this issue excessively in this process, but after 6-8 weeks, it is necessary to return to normal life. It is not right to talk about this event frequently unless the child opens up. At the moment, if the child brings up the subject himself, if he asks, it is necessary to approach him in a way to keep his sense of hope and trust alive."
Managing the fear of earthquake depends on parental attitudes
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan pointed out the importance of parents' attitudes in managing fears and anxieties about earthquakes, especially in children, and said, "Children at that age usually observe their parents about earthquakes. When there is a slight shaking, the child looks at the parents. How they behave, if they are calm, the child will also be calm. If the parents are in a state of panic, the child will also approach with panic. Here, it is important that the people the child lives with are cool-headed."
Stating that it is also important for traumas such as earthquakes to have a strengthening effect on family ties, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, "It is important for the child to experience the feeling of 'We have experienced such a thing, but I am not alone'. These feelings develop in the child's imagination."
Psychological support is useful
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that various methods are used to help children overcome trauma and one of these methods is play therapy and said: "The child is made to draw pictures and play games. It is aimed to solve this trauma within those games. The child can turn that trauma into a solved trauma while playing games and arranging logos. At the moment, this trauma is raw in these children. In order to make it a resolved trauma, it is necessary to work on post-traumatic growth. For this reason, psychological support and assistance would be beneficial for these children who were under the rubble in the earthquake for post-traumatic growth work."
The brain shuts itself down in strong traumas
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan also evaluated the extremely calm rescue of Elif Perinçek and Ayda Gezgin, the symbolic children of the Izmir earthquake, from the rubble and said, "Since children before the age of 5-6 have a sense of uncertainty, the effects of light, the arrival of someone who cares for them, and having a nice conversation with them are very effective. A very professional rescue was done for these children. The whole team should be congratulated. The work was carried out by making the child feel that they were not alone and that they would be reached sooner or later. The children were taken out of there without any problems, without any rough treatment. During their stay there, children can focus most on the process of getting out of there. Then the IV drip and the process of going to the hospital. For example, how beautifully he extends his arm for the IV drip. Under normal circumstances, if they were told to stretch out his arm for an IV drip, the child would resist and have a crisis. At that moment, he is experiencing this with the shock of fear. The brain also shuts itself off against pain in strong traumas. The brain becomes insensitive. It becomes unable to feel any sense of fear. The brain has such a defense mechanism. This situation occurs due to excessive secretion of cortisol by the brain. The brain puts itself on the defensive in such situations. It closes itself against stimuli. As such, the child does not feel pain or fear."
Support from therapy should be sought
Noting that the endorphin secreted by the brain in such traumas may also have an effect, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, "Endorphin is both a painkiller and a hormone that relaxes the muscles and gives comfort. The brain helps the person's trauma in this way. I think the children were under its influence. At that time, they seem to be comfortable due to it, but later, as they face the event, as they experience it and see the images, fears may arise later. Therefore, one should not be fooled by their comfort here, support from therapy should be sought."
