Tuesday's earthquake: shaky, sure, but traumatic??

Whenever anything in this world happens, it's only a matter of time before we receive an earnest news release offering advice as to how folks can cope with the emotional trauma of the event (and, of course, instructions on how to talk to kids about it). The words "post-traumatic stress" come up a lot. Thus the following missive, received this morning, came as no surprise:

"With yesterday’s L.A. earthquake, thought you and your audience would be interested in learning more about how to deal with the psychological effects after living through an earthquake. Sometimes even the sound of the air-conditioner turning on can cause panic for days or weeks after the fact. PeopleJam, an online self-improvement site, has compiled a list of the ways you and your family can lessen the 'after-shock' of an earthquake."

Um,  Earth to PeopleJam -- Tuesday's was a 5.4 temblor -- in  L.A., land of earthquakes. There were a dozen minor injuries, some minor damage such as smashed windows. The biggest strains to our infrastructure, according to an L.A. Times article, were "felt in phone and Internet systems, which buckled because of overwhelming demand in the minutes after the jolt." Oh, and our local transportation slowed down -- traumatic, I will grant, to anyone already dealing with the Gold Line crawl through South Pasadena.

The pronouncement of a colleague's 11-year-old daughter? "Awesome." I don't think that mother has any plans to ask said daughter to express her feelings further ("Totally cool").

We're not saying minor earthquakes aren't sometimes scary, nor that anyone who's dealt with larger ones, especially if they've suffered personal and material losses from them, isn't going to feel emotional fallout. But please, can we save the trauma talk for more cataclysmic events?

By the way, even if this were a real disaster, it still isn't necessarily helpful to talk about it as PeopleJam recommends among its list of tips ("Talk with someone about your feelings -- anger, fear, sorrow and other emotions -- even though it may be difficult.") In fact, such emoting can sometimes make things worse. Read about that in an article in this week's Health section by staff writer Susan Brink.

-- Rosie Mestel

Comments

[Patrice]

I couldn't agree more. Yesterday's tremble was sooo not that big compared to what could have taken place. If people are reacting this way to a small trembler, I'd hate to see what they would do if/when the big one does come. I think we are all a little spoiled, being that the last really noticable quake in SoCal was over a decade ago, but we need to remember that this is EARTHQUAKE country, and just because we get a little tremble it doesn't mean the world is going to end. Think how psycologically damaging it would be to live in tornado alley???

[MiscastDice]

Ahahahahaha! That's my laugh for the night. Seriously, if you get post-traumatic stress from a small quake like that, you've got more problems than earthquakes. Though if you can claim mental health issues for a quake like that, can I get someone to pay for my beer and cigarettes? They're for my quake stress, honestly! I'm calling my lawyer (never mind I can't afford one) and I'm going to sue that ____ing San Andreas!

*snicker snicker snicker*

This is just too funny. Though it's also sad since REAL PTSD and real trauma-generating events will be written off as this kind of over-doctored, over-lawyered BS.

[Still Loves L.A.]

Well, I didn't think I was traumatized in the least by Tuesday's quake--even though the downtown highrise I was in swayed like mad. I've lived in earthquake country all my life--including living in Sylmar in 1971--so I've been through my share. But I've woken up each of the last two nights with earthquake nightmares. So, there is some sort of subconscious something going on. Call it whatever you will...

[A Val]

Being a lifelong Pomona native and ongoing resident, I will admit to getting a stress headache from this quake, and being surprised that things actually fell over for a change, but PTSD?

It seems like most of the newspaper accounts that have been published have come from people new to California, and even more surprising-- so many of these people came are natives of those regions frequented by hurricanes, tornadoes, major flooding, snow (!); places where disasters happen and people say they are blessed and have been chosen by God to endure such phenomena to demonstrate their faith and perseverance through adversity.

Consider yourself baptized in the liberal, health nut, sprawling-suburban land of the Terminator, home of the Quake, and pledge allegiance to the Shrink. Here, we take tricyclic antidepressants, a mist of sunscreen with our soy lattes, not because of the Earthquakes, but because the commute on the 405 puts the SD in out PTSD!

[John M]

We need to get over these things. I've been through both the Loma Prieta quake and the Northridge quake. They're over, move on. Americans spend too much time, aided and abetted by the media, with fretting over stuff like this. Get over it. I think too many folks have too much time on their hands. If you don't want this stuff, move. That's life here.

[P J Evans]

I was wondering when the disaster tourists / papparazzi would show up.

Jeez, trauma from a 5.4? In _California_?
I can see it back east, where a quake that size really does do damage and where people aren't used to it. But not here.
I tell you, first thing it stopped shaking, checked the USGS for information. (Then had to wait to file my 'did you feel it' report.)
Been through bigger shakers ...