The collapse of the Alau Dam in Maiduguri and the consequential flooding that has occurred in the city is a disaster on so many fronts. Scores of lives have been lost and counting, several family members remain trapped or unaccounted for, with nearly two million displaced persons. This is a tragedy on a monumental scale. Several heart-breaking stories are coming out that depict the scale of the losses and trauma that the entire city and her people are going through.
Imagine going to bed at night and waking up to your entire house, belongings, valuables, cars completely submerged under water. Salvaging anything was simply unthinkable….other than attaining safety. A woman narrated how she woke up at 1am to the sound of water in her home and had to shout for help to be rescued with her children. Some simply managed to climb unto the roof of their houses and waited to be rescued.
Those who managed to be rescued suddenly find themselves in a situation where they are rendered homeless with no single possession or household item, no food or clothes – other than what they had on their backs. The scale of loss is better imagined than experienced. Thus, many have now sought shelter with friends and families whose areas were not affected. The hosting households are also stretched to breaking point due to scarcity of food, relief materials, clean water, sanitary facilities etc.
In addition to the foregoing, several thousands are still searching for loved ones and remain unsure where they are, if they made it alive or if it is their dead bodies that will be recovered. The uncertainty, worry, anxiety and trauma is unprecedented. Many are simply in a state of shock and disbelief, while others are just overwhelmed. The psychological trauma is immense.
Psychological trauma?
Trauma is derived from the Greek word for 'wound'. Psychological trauma occurs when we are exposed to extraordinarily stressful events that shatter our sense of security, making you feel helpless in a dangerous or life threatening situation. Thus, such situations result in a psychological wound or injury, as a result of the traumatic experiences, involving a threat to our life or safety. It is often accompanied by difficulty with coping or functioning normally following a particularly traumatic event or experience. Everyone's reaction is different, but the majority of those who experience a potentially traumatic event will recover well – with the support of family and friends, and will not experience any long-term problems.
What is the psychological impact of disasters?
The diverse spectrum of emotional reactions in the aftermath of disasters usually vary from person to person. But they can be categorized broadly into two categories:
A). Emotional reactions: These include feelings of confusion and disbelief, with questions such as 'why did this happen to me?'. Shock, denial, anger, anxiety, feelings of guilt etc. Others may experience shame, feelings of sadness, hopelessness, social withdrawal from society, feeling like a burden, loss of sense of personal dignity and feeling vulnerable and at the mercy of the goodwill of others.
B). Physical symptoms: May include difficulty falling asleep, or having recurrent nightmares, fatigue and tiredness, muscle tension, being on edge and jumping easily at loud or sudden noises, racing heart beats and feeling numb.
These symptoms frequently last for some days and then subside, but some of these symptoms may persist for several months and then gradually fade away over time. The majority will benefit from psychosocial support as well as interventions and treatment.
What Can We Do?
Dr. Jibril Abdulmalik
Tribune Article for the column "Your Mental Health & You"
Thursday, 19th September 2024
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