Hi all,
We are past the one month mark of the 25 April earthquake, yet we continue to think, worry and recover from the loss and shock. However, the amazing thing about our body is that it has a natural healing process. We have a tendency to move towards getting better. We will start to discover feelings left in our minds and bodies, and struggle with them, even if we did not lose much of anything or anyone.
If two or three months after an incident we are still struggling with moving on, it is vital we see a professional. It is not good for ourselves, and our loved ones, to stay stuck with that feeling of fear and uncertainty.
Please send me more questions to:
askanjanaanything@nepalitimes.com or @AnjyRajy
Hi Anjana
The university I attend has been closed since the earthquake and I find myself constantly googling about quakes and hearing so many stories about the next potential one. I look up tips on how to survive one and have also downloaded many apps to notify me about earthquake. I have also heard that you cannot predict an earthquake. When I talk to people about it they say I am too scared and I should not be. But I think it is good and smart to be alert. Of course I am scared and worried, but I am trying to be cautious. Do I need to draw a line somewhere? I am not able to stop thinking about an impending earthquake, reading more about it, and learning ways to stay safe. Is this bad?
-GG
AR: You are among a fairly large population of people who are trying to find every possible way to stay safe. What happened was a life altering experience and many of us cannot associate any form of ‘shaking’ with a positive metaphor for a while. I do think it is necessary for you to draw the line here because otherwise you may not be able to stop before you have caused too much mental chaos for yourself and the ones around you. It is smart to stay alert, but being borderline paranoid that a possible imminent disaster might happen any second is not necessary.
Try to get away from earthquake related news slowly and you can do that by taking care of yourself. Continuing to think and talk about the earthquake will make it harder for you to move on. Reassure yourself that things will get better. Replay good memories in your mind. Volunteer or help others. Be kind to yourself. Try not to put yourself in the midst of the commotion that you are trying to move on from. Focus on the positive. If you are religious or spiritual try to have faith in something bigger believing that with time it will get better.
You survived, you are healthy, and you have access to the internet, so you are among the lucky ones. Be grateful because many people have it far worse. I’m not saying we can snap our fingers and change how we feel: it will take time, practice, and multiple reminders. Take care of yourself, and good luck.
Anjana is a certified mental health rehabilitation technician and has four years of experience in adult mental health in Maine, USA.
Read also:
Surviving trauma, Anjana Rajbhandary