After a major earthquake like the one that struck Venezuela on June 24, 2016, it is normal to experience a surge of contradictory and intense emotions, including material and family grief and survivor's guilt.
Although the earthquake lasts only a few seconds, its shock waves in the human psyche can extend for years.
When the earth shakes violently, not only do concrete and brick structures fracture; the fundamental sense of security, control, and stability upon which we build our daily lives is also shattered.
Coping with the grief of losing loved ones and material structures represents one of the most complex psychological challenges a person can experience throughout their life.
Psychiatrist Yrene Delgado says that the immediate human response is usually a state of shock or dissociation, a natural defense mechanism where the mind disconnects to process the magnitude of the event at a tolerable pace.
Symptom
He explains that, as the initial shock subsides, various psychological and physical reactions appear. “The most prominent are hypervigilance and constant anxiety, fueled by the persistent feeling that the earth will shake again, where every loud noise or vibration triggers a panic response,” he says.
He says it is also common to experience survivor's guilt, a phenomenon where the person questions why they survived while others died, or regrets not having been able to save more belongings or lives.
“Added to this is the disorientation caused by the loss of one's home, which involves not only the destruction of walls, but also the disappearance of memories, spaces of intimacy, and the daily routine that provides structure to the mind. All this stress often manifests itself physically through insomnia, recurring nightmares about the catastrophe, extreme fatigue, and digestive problems,” he said.
Traumatic grief
The specialist explains that grief over the death of a loved one during a natural disaster is usually classified as traumatic grief, since the loss occurs suddenly, violently, and unexpectedly.
“In these cases, it is essential to allow and validate all the emotions that arise. Pain, anger, deep sadness, and emotional numbness are all perfectly valid responses; there is no need to rush the process or demand that you be strong uninterruptedly,” she says.
Likewise, when traditional funeral rites cannot be performed normally due to the emergency, it is very helpful to create adapted farewell rituals.
“Creating a private space to honor the memory of a loved one, such as lighting a candle, writing a letter, or planting a tree, helps the mind process the irreversibility of the loss. Seeking community support and discussing the experience with other survivors or family members significantly reduces the feeling of extreme isolation,” she adds.
On the other hand, the grief over material losses is often minimized with phrases like “the important thing is that they’re alive.” While human life is irreplaceable, downplaying the impact of losing a home or a lifetime’s worth of belongings invalidates legitimate grief.
It is necessary to recognize the emotional value of what has been lost, since the house and belongings represent effort, family history and personal security.
Accepting the restructuring of life implies focusing on reconstruction not as an exact return to the past, but as the gradual creation of a new stage, accepting the slowness of the process to avoid despair.
Affective patience
The specialist explains that between 70 and 80% of those affected suffer the consequences in this way.
In the face of anxiety crises, anchoring techniques, such as diaphragmatic breathing and focusing on the present senses, help to stop panic attacks.
Seeking psychological first aid or specialized trauma therapy is a crucial step if debilitating symptoms persist for several weeks. It's important to emphasize that rebuilding life after an earthquake is a gradual process requiring patience, self-compassion, and mutual support. Even if emotional scars remain, the human capacity for resilience allows for the reconstruction of a solid life project upon the ruins.
What to do?
- Allow yourself to feel all your emotions. Don't try to suppress sadness, anger, or confusion. Experiencing and validating what you feel is a natural part of the process.
- Maintain basic self-care routines. Try to get enough sleep, eat well, and stay hydrated, even when you don't feel like it. Your body needs energy to process emotional stress.
- Avoid making drastic decisions immediately. During the initial stages of grief, your ability to assess things clearly may be impaired. Give yourself some time before making major life changes.
- Express yourself through writing or art. Putting your feelings into words or onto paper helps to externalize recurring thoughts and organize your mind.
- Create meaningful memorial rituals. Perform small symbolic actions to honor the person or thing you lost.
