WOES AFTER THE QUAKE: When aftershocks are happening ‘within’

Trigger warning: This article contains mentions of suicide. 

A week has passed since another earthquake shook northern Cebu. Still reeling from the devastation of the 6.9-magnitude quake last September 30, affected residents are clouded with yet another burden to carry as fear warns of worse possibilities.

Earthquakes are unpredictable in nature. No seismologist or scientific method has successfully projected the exact timing or location of the phenomena. Unlike approaching typhoons or extreme heat, we cannot track these in advance through news updates or built-in forecasts on our mobile phones. In the absence of certainty, we become twice as wary of what comes next. Another tremor? The “Big One”? While these questions are being asked, some are still regaining balance after the last quake, stuck wondering whether they are feeling a physical aftershock or if it is fear telling them that the ground is trembling again.

‘Mini-earthquakes in the mind’

 After a strong shaking, earthquake survivors may sense vibrations from the ground even when it is actually still.  In an article from The Guardian, neuroscientist Dr. Daniel Glaser called this perceived motion phantom quake. He compared it to another sensation, clinically termed as mal de debarquement syndrome (MdDS) or sea legs, where one could feel unsteadiness upon stepping on land after being on a boat. 

Signals coming from the eyes, feet, and the vestibular system, also called organs of balance, are processed in the brain to help us keep our footing. When standing on a boat, one may feel dizzy or nauseous because various sensory messages might contradict each other.

The normal functioning of the motor cortex, responsible for executing voluntary movements, may be temporarily disrupted following a quake. Stillness would be misinterpreted as motion, hence the brain going off-balance. 

Moreover, a 2021 study on the syndrome found that people who experienced phantom earthquakes reported psychological distress, which included constant worry, anxiety, and heightened alertness. These symptoms are similar to what survivors often go through with signs of acute stress or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

Researchers also noted that the false feeling of movement disrupted people’s ability to carry out everyday tasks and pulled them away from any sense of normalcy after an earthquake. 

Though shakes may be imagined, internal woes are real and felt.  What might seem to be just happening inside the head may not stop there.

Why psychological first aid is important 

Those gravely affected by the physical destruction in the aftermath may still be left in shock, sorrow, or overwhelming feelings of hopelessness.  Dismissing sentiments of fear and post-quake distress only deprives us from understanding the emotional and mental toll an earthquake can cause. In Cebu, calls for psychological first aid post-quake are ever urgent.

In an interview with Rappler, a resident of Cogon spoke about the trauma of being situated in the epicenter, “… imung utok murag natay-og […] kana bitaw mag-hunahuna ka sa nahitabo, kana man imung mapokus sa linog ra.” 

(Your brain feels like it’s shaking […] when you think about what happened, you only focus on the earthquake).

While holding herself together through the tremors, she shared about the anxieties of attending to the needs of her 67-year-old mother and grandchild who were also traumatized.

“Magkurogkurog pa gani ko sa akong kaunoran. Imbes na nerbyos na ka daan, ma-nervous breakdown pa ka ani,” she added. 

(I could still feel my insides shake. You’d get a nervous breakdown).

Devastation had sunk deeper in the town of Medellin, where local authorities found a family of 12, an eight-year-old child and a pregnant woman included, blocking access to a road with their church chairs and refusing to eat food since October 1. Relief goods brought to the area were said to have been thrown away into the sea. As per the account of the president of the family’s religious group, trauma post-quake led them to reported attempts of self-harm.

In an effort to prevent the affected family members from resorting to suicidal actions, the Rural Health Unit of Medellin, together with a medical team from Manila, provided Psychological First Aid to the affected family members. 

Studies show that about one-third of individuals affected by disasters may struggle with mental health issues, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other related conditions.

When fear misleads

When another earthquake rattled Cebu on October 18, social media soon became flooded with messages of concern and support. However, Facebook users had warned of the bad omens of the number ten after the two quakes happened at the tenth hour. Cebu at 10 PM and Davao at 10 AM. 

There are also those who brace for the worst and count the days to the so-called ‘big one’ that would hit Luzon. 

The talk of the town’s ‘big one’ is believed to arise from a rupture along the West Valley Fault which stretches from Bulacan to Cavite. Given the fault’s length, it could reach a magnitude of 7. However, in an email to VERA Files Fact Check, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reiterated that the exact date, time, location, and magnitude of an earthquake cannot be predicted. 

Fear is a natural response that follows a strong tremor, but it is necessary to exercise prudence and caution in taking these emotions to public platforms such as social media feeds. It is best to be aware of preparedness protocols,  verify sources, and consult experts knowledgeable at monitoring seismic activities. Spreading false alarms only triggers anxiety and fuels a cycle of misinformation that could put lives at stake.  

Attending to ‘invisible’ needs

Earthquakes leave victim-survivors with burdens beyond physical damage. If left unattended, these aftershocks within could lead to deeper distress that may last for months, or even years. 

In times where misinformation feeds fear, coping with the post-quake woes begins with the right information. In an interview with the Cosmopolitan Philippines, psychologist Lovely Ana Aguas noted the importance of being prepared both physically and mentally.

“Knowing what to do reduces panic because the mind already has a script to follow. Remember, the brain likes familiarity and patterns. If you are prepared, there will be less overthinking,” she shared.

The more one is prepared, the more agency there is in dealing with unprecedented events. Anchoring actions in the present will instill a sense of self-trust in managing what can be controlled.

If overwhelming feelings take hold, trying regulation techniques may help ease worries. Dr. Aguas shared the ‘5-4-3-2-1’ method, where the process follows naming five things you can see, four that can be touched, three that can be heard, two that can be smelled, and one that can be tasted.

“This helps calm your brain when it starts to overthink and imagine the worst scenarios. This is just one example of grounding,” she explained. 

Distress may persist, especially for those living in areas gravely affected by the recent calamity, hence, psychological support needs to be sustained.  Mental health, then, is not a secondary concern but one that calls for immediate attention in these times of crisis.