The repercussions of the devastating earthquake that struck the Al Haouz province in central Morocco 10 days ago are still continuing, and it appears that they have spread beyond the affected area to more distant regions, and this was in the form of psychological symptoms suffered by Moroccans.
For example, Amina, a mother of two young women, only felt some vibrations during the earthquake that slightly affected the city of Casablanca, where she lives.
But Amina still feels dizzy and wants to vomit, and she panics as soon as something falls from her hand to the ground.
Unfortunately, her condition is not the only one, as she stated with tearful eyes to Sky News Arabia, but rather it is the condition of many family members and close ones who could not bear the pain of the residents of the most affected region in Morocco and their loss of their relatives, loved ones, and possessions in the blink of an eye on the night of Friday, September 9.
This matter is “physical symptoms associated with anxiety and stress,” as Adham Al-Maghrabi, a psychiatrist at the University of Hamburg in Germany and director of medical strategies at the “Arab Therapy” platform, points out in his statement to Sky News Arabia.
According to him, “it is an involuntary expression by the body through which it expresses frustration at the inability to provide anything during a major, significant event that has already occurred. The body, in sympathy with the victims, expresses this frustration in the form of physical symptoms that may include dizziness, a tendency to vomit, tremors, and numbness in the body.” “And difficulty breathing. This is called a physical reaction to psychological stress. The symptoms usually last for a short period and then gradually disappear.”
“I have scary nightmares”
Ibrahim, a young man in his twenties, who works in the field of teaching, said in a sad voice to Sky News Arabia: “I find it difficult to fall asleep. I have frightening nightmares. I suffer from muscle spasms every day, and I do not stop following the news and watching videos coming from Morocco or Libya. I cannot believe that we are “We are experiencing successive tragedies and natural disasters in the region. Neighborhoods have completely disappeared from the maps.”
Psychiatrist Adham Al-Maghrabi believes that “insomnia is a natural reaction that can occur in many people of different ages. It can also be a cause or a symptom of a depressive episode for people who originally suffer from some type of depressive disorder.”
Children between the hammer of the earthquake and the anvil of the flood
How can the symptoms of earthquake shock be eliminated?
To get rid of these symptoms, Dr. Adham Al-Maghrabi at the University of Hamburg advises:
Practice mindfulness exercises. Use breathing and relaxation techniques. Talk to a friend or close person about the event to release your feelings or write down your feelings on paper. Practicing sports activities. Accept feelings and do not hide them. Focus on following a regular daily routine.
In the case of insomnia, the Moroccan doctor says: “You must follow a sleep regime and never rush to seek medical help because it is often controlled by following the previous techniques.”
On the other hand, he stresses that other symptoms that you should pay attention to are “stupefaction, not responding at all, extreme emotion, denial, or even not acting in sync with what is actually happening. If it continues for a long time, you must consult a psychologist.” .
Al-Maghrabi warns that natural disasters can have long-term psychological effects and symptoms may develop into what is called “post-traumatic stress disorder, but not every person who is exposed to a psychological shock such as earthquakes should develop this disorder.”
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2023-09-18 19:34:11
