Quake survivors attempt to salvage fragile mental health after devastating trauma

After the destructive earthquake that struck the region of Al-Haouz on Friday night, many individuals who experienced this tragedy are still in shock.

The impact of the seismic event on the psychological well-being of those people has been profound, especially among children.

Feeling frightened to death, traumatized, and anxious, are the most prevalent symptoms left by the tragic earthquake that claimed the lives of more than 2,000 individuals and caused severe injuries to many.

In a heartfelt conversation with Hespress EN, Amal, a traumatized 13-year-old girl from Marrakech vents the terrifying moments she experienced during the quake.

She said “I was alone in my bedroom when the earthquake hit. Initially, I dismissed the noise until I realized that the ground was actually trembling.” “I felt my life was about to end. Actually, I died mentally before I died physically,” she explained in her own words.

Ever since, Amal has been experiencing fear, anxiety, nausea, and loss of appetite. In a heart-wrenching voice, she said “I can still remember the noise of walls cracking.”

The cracks in the walls and the continued aftershocks have further intensified her phobia of returning to her house. And it’s not the first child to refuse to go back home after the tragedy.

Ilyes is another traumatized 13-year-old boy from Ouarzazate and shares the same feelings as Amal from Marrakech. Hespress EN interviewed his mom to learn more about her son’s behavior and feelings since the first hit of the earthquake.

Since Friday night, Ilyes has been displaying signs of immense fear, anxiety, and trauma. Unfortunately, when the quake struck, the poor child was alone on the second floor. In a state of panic, the child went immediately downstairs unable to verbalize his fear.

“He couldn’t even take a breath”, his mother describes. Her child immediately escaped to the street and he was uncontrollably shaking out of shock.

She added that he refused to go back home for days even though the earthquake subsided.

The mother, alongside the whole family members and neighbors, has been trying to provide emotional support to the traumatized child, portraying strength despite her own fears from the tragedy.

Similar to Amal, the cracks in the walls cause fear and anxiety to him and remind him of the earthquake. His mom said, “Because of the cracks, he thinks that once he steps into the house, it will collapse.”

Trying to understand more about the serious impact of the earthquake on the psychological well-being of these children, Jawad Almandri Lage, a therapist specializing in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and Anxiety Management, shared his valuable insights in an exclusive interview with Hespress EN.

Almandri Lage explained that “When the child sees their parents fleeing from the house and everyone is leaving, for the child, the house is a danger and a threat.” He added that the house becomes automatically linked to the earthquake which means that “once he is inside the house, there is a huge threat and he might die.”

According to the therapist, the child refuses to return home because of their fear of losing their loved ones, and how the child perceives the danger might render the situation even worse.

Almandri Lage noted that the trauma caused by the earthquake can manifest in numerous ways, including panic attacks, fear of loud noises, and sleep disturbances, and sometimes It can cause Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and depression.

Talking about the long-term psychological effects, Almandri Lage firmly disagreed with those who perceive these reactions as not symptoms of trauma. According to him, if this trauma is not discussed with professionals, it might result in long-term consequences.

The therapist underscored the importance of showing physical affection to children, especially hugs and kisses, during these hard times. He clarified that these simple acts play a crucial role in a child’s psychological well-being, offering them a sense of safety and reassurance.

Almandri Lage added that actively listening to child’s feelings without interrupting them and allowing them to vent their fears and concerns is extremely healing for them.

One of the effective ways to help children overcome the effects of this tragedy is to try reframing their perception of the traumatic event by making them compare the rarity of the earthquakes in their home countries to other earthquake-prone countries such as Japan, according to Almandri Lage.