SOME TIPS FOR COPING AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE

Ann from Relationship Wellbeing Specialist

An event such as the kaikoura earthquake, which is outside the range of usual experience, can be acutely distressing. It is not unusual to have a stress reaction to such a major event.
These stress reactions are your psychological attempts to cope with what for some will be overwhelming events.
Just as the body may go into shock after a physical injury, it is normal to experience a type of emotional or psychological shock in response to an event such as this.

Normal reactions to the earthquake
Everyone’s reaction and experience is a very personal one.
However, the following list is a guide to possible normal reactions:
• Preoccupation with the earthquake and its results
• Anger and irritability
• Anxiety
• Increased emotionality, feelings seem to be of a greater intensity than is usual; or, conversely, a numbing which prevents awareness of feeling
• Sleep disturbance
• Difficulty with concentration and/or memory
• Confused thinking and difficulty making decisions

WHAT CAN YOU DO?
While stress reactions are normal, how we deal with them does make a significant difference in how much these reactions will disrupt our lives.
Some ways of “reacting to the reactions” are more helpful than others. In fact, not dealing effectively with these stress responses can greatly delay recovery from them.

The following suggestions are often useful ways of coping effectively and building your resilience.

• Do not isolate yourself. While getting away from everyone may immediately feel less threatening or less distressing, it very often impedes healing.

• Remind yourself of coping strategies which have worked for you in the past. Use your proven resilience techniques.

• Talk out what happened and most importantly, how you feel about what happened. Telling what happened while avoiding your feelings leaves you with just telling “war stories”. Telling your story to identify and express the feelings you experienced helps make any unpleasant feelings more bearable.

• Reach out to your partner, family and close friends - to those you trust and know care about you.

• Eat healthy food and beverages.

• Do something nice for yourself.

• Do something to help someone else. This can be helpful to your own recovery.

• Exercise, it can re-energize you and help to clear your mind.

• Remember, your reactions are normal and are likely to be shared by others.