Such reports can naturally cause anxious individuals to develop an extreme fear of earthquakes. I can’t sleep during night. You have a better chance of dying in an earthquake (1 in 9,788,561). This list of earthquakes in Taiwan charts significant earthquakes which have affected the island of Taiwan. They often cause large scale destruction of property and life. A poll of 1,100 people from the website Sperling's Best Places reveals that more than one in five Americans fear earthquakes more than any other natural disaster. I have the same fears! People who fear the end of the world or the Apocalypse often correlate these events. Seismophobia is a representation of inner anxiety and based on the extent of one’s fear, there may be different symptoms. If you know anyone with these fears, please have them contact me. Please think of my lightening analogy. I hope someday I will get over the fear and be able to relax in our holiday home and go to the beach without living in fear of something like this again. I studied photographs of damaged earthquake areas and the estimates of what we here in Los Angeles could expect if we were struck by The Big One. My whole family is worried about me. In areas experiencing seismic activities frequently, geologists keep a watch for major events in order to minimize devastation through evacuation. Fear of Earthquakes I need to overcome this goddamn phobia, it is ruining my life. One could determine ways to protect one’s home and family without going overboard. I only think about if an earthquake will come and how i will escape. Now I am constantly having anxiety about it and don’t know what to do. I too am that way. But if you change your life to address that fear, you're likely suffering from a phobia. This is despite the fact that earthquakes have only … I feel shaking when I’m in bed at night or in the morning and my heart starts beeping really fast. He thinks I’m nuts and said he’s not wasting the money. If somebody is able to help, please give solutions to overcome this phobia. Panicking. You have a better chance of being struck by lightning (1 in 576,000). So once again, be strong for your family. I cant bear it anymore. When i even sit on anything i just get a feeling that there is a tremor and suddenly get out from there. People living in earthquake prone zones experience shaking, rumbling and tremors from time to time. I keep looking around my room or living room just in case so I understand what you are feeling. Except for your love to your family. Experts agree that fear is a natural emotional response designed to keep us safe and out of harm’s way. A Southern California writer’s fear of earthquakes fuels ‘Aftershocks’ Marisa Reichardt's novel imagines the aftermath of The Big One, and how two teens attempt to get to safety. I also developed a self-hypnotizing program of desensitization to the effects of an earthquake and my previous reactions to them. Besides fighting COVID-19, Croats learnt last year how nature could show its brutal face as two devastating earthquakes left them struggling to repair their homes and living in fear of further shakes. Fear, uncertainty and resiliency in Cotabato’s earthquakes. The word ‘ Seismophobia’ originates from Greek ‘ seismo’ meaning famine, earthquakes or wars and ‘ Phobos’ the Greek God of fear. But I’d be fearful of hurricanes or tornados if I moved out of state. Earthquakes are terrifying to the uninitiated. The phobic might go to great lengths to plan an escape route in case of an earthquake. And with hundreds of vulnerable old buildings suffering from decades of neglect, many residents of … Some things leave our lives just as soon as they entered. It’s a lot to explain, but if any of you are still looking for proper treatment I would contact someone in your area that specializes in OCD. A person’s entire mental security can be undone in seconds. Try to concentrate on other stuff. I live in the UK where we don’t have earthquakes worth worrying about as they’re mostly too small to feel. I live in an unreinforced masonry house and asked my husband years ago to retrofit our house (we have two boys in bunk beds and the thought of the roof collapsing on them terrifies me). We just need to fight and stay strong. I hope this helps someone. I know I am being late but I hope you will read this. I don’t know what to do to overcome this phobia which paralyses me every single day and hour of my life, even studying them in Science couldn’t help me face it. A clinical hypnotherapist, handwriting analyst and expert master hypnotist, Nicholas Pollak may be contacted at nickpollak@hypnotherapy4you.net, [searchandfilter fields="search,category" taxonomies="category"], Armed Group Walks into a Police Station and…, Clarke’s Gift: A Kind Celebration Here on Saturday, BrokButcher.com Wins a Title – It’s Inexplicable, Lockhart No. I live in Vancouver too and I have had seismophobia for 25 years. This includes keeping a fire extinguisher ready and chalking out an escape plan or keeping a first aid kit handy etc. ... “When the first earthquake struck (Oct. 16), we stayed home, thinking it will soon pass. It just needs some time. Their behavior could be obsessive compulsive in some cases. I came to understand earthquakes. We also read or hear news reports about earthquakes where people remain trapped underneath the rubble for days, even weeks. Once we realized what was happening, we did what we always have been told: Look for solid cover or go outside, but avoid standing too close to windows. You are warned about sudden changes, which will throw off the rhythm of your life. Dry mouth, dizziness, gastrointestinal distress, nausea, headaches etc. This is the fourth quake I’ve experienced in this year and while everyone is laughing at me I still can not overcome this fear. I’m not finding a way to overcome it :(. This naturally affects their day to day life and even compromises their relationships. Fear of earthquakes is part of life in California. I have experienced many smaller tremors and they have never worried me, even been woken up by the house shaking. And believe it or not this fear will do the same. I’ve been thinking the same exact way and can’t help but to think of all the worst possible scenarios. I hang things in my house in different rooms so when I think I feel moving I look to see if they are still or not. The slightest of sounds stir me awake. I’m 16 and I live in Northern Algeria and we already faced earthquakes. For some, the fear prompts them to take steps to … I also have this fear. I’ve been trying to calm myself down but eventually my nerves get the best of me and end up overwhelming myself again. Share; Tweet Reddit Flipboard Email In Washington state, coastal community leaders are debating over the most effective way to … I am storing water, which I never did in the past because he would give me a hard time. But I accept them more calmly, with a clear thinking attitude. I just started to have this fear but ever since we had a 6.9 and 7.1 on July 4th and 5th in South California I started to constantly think if we are going to have another one today and the next day growing to be a 9.0 scale. Just like you, I am not calm anymore. There were many aftershocks and many of my friends said if I had left I would never come back for another holiday. No one here is offering any positive thoughts, and I know it’s difficult when the anxiety takes hold, so let me share these thoughts with you. Instead I will ask you to think about you and your family. Earthquakes are terrifying to the uninitiated. Vera Urges Council to Slow, Give Voice to Residents. I have been feeling that way too lately. Whenever the floor creaks, I panic thinking that it might be an earthquake. I know they are right. You need to be strong for them. I remember in 4th grade we got out for summer and as soon as we did, when we got home I was watching TV when I felt the apartment shake. I need help. I live in Salt Lake City and we have been warned about “The Big One” my whole life (40 years). I found as many books as I could about earthquakes, how they occurred, where, what kind of damage could be expected. If, however, the phobia is interfering with your daily life, do speak to a professional psychotherapist who can recommend ways and means to cope with this anxiety. Although the activity is below the par for Yellowstone’s monthly output, many people fear Yellowstone is due to pop without notice. Never having experienced an earthquake, my first one here unnerved me to the point I felt I needed to move out of the state. When the July earthquakes in 2019 happened, I had really bad anxiety that I couldn’t sleep at all and I kept thinking in the middle of the night that we were having one. How to Change Direction. It’s the unpredictability of them that gets me. In many recent earthquakes such as the one in Japan, there were other major aftermaths (in the form of Tsunamis and damage to nuclear reactors). The way to treat her fear of earthquakes was to treat the childhood fear. I live in a house where my bedroom is halfway below ground level outside, so every time a large truck or train (live near train tracks) comes by I panic and can’t think or sometimes sleep. The word ‘Seismophobia’ originates from Greek ‘seismo’ meaning famine, earthquakes or wars and ‘Phobos’ the Greek God of fear. In a majority of Seismophobic individuals, the fear stems from a terrible past experience with an earthquake, (where one might have experienced loss of life or financial losses). Many sufferers also have other phobias such as Agoraphobia (the fear of being unable to escape), Thanatophobia (the fear of death) or even the fear of being trapped or buried alive (Taphephobia). Precautions to Consider. The quest for certainty is a fundamentalist quest, the fear of doubt is the fear of fallibility and the lack of control. There are hundreds of thousands of phobias and Seismophobia is one of the most common ones if you live in a seismic hazard zone. We are due to fly out again in March but with the current situation I am almost thankful I can’t fly. Just in case any of you check back in on this, I want to let you all know that a fear on this scale is most likely a form of OCD. I was almost enjoying the ride. I did suffer from alot of anxiety too about earthquakes. I found my way here because I have OCD and sometimes the anxiety of it is unbearable. So I can’t sleep at night. Ex-Natatorium: If Not a Science Building, What? I read a meme that basically says worrying about something that hasn’t happened makes you relive it unnecessarily multiple times. Bucharest is the EU capital that is most at risk from earthquakes, many seismologists believe. This family fled Puerto Rico for fear of more earthquakes 02:39. Required fields are marked *. I reread this often hoping it will help me. Luckily, my mind rarely works obsessively – I’ve got memory problems, so sometimes I just forget I’m even afraid of a thing until I’m reminded of or confronted with it. I didn’t even know this was a thing! In other words, earthquakes are ‘natural’ disasters that only gods know about. Treating her fear of earthquakes I told my husband I wanted to move after the quake in March, and I have never been more serious. I’m constantly fearful that every little vibration is an S wave, and then start to panic waiting for the P wave to strike. A new survey has found Americans fear earthquakes more than any other type of natural disaster. After a major earthquake the funding for research and development in seismology and engineering is often increased. by Oregon State University. I not only have this fear but also all the natural disasters on this planet. I lay awake. What would anyone suggest I should do to either overcome them or at least try not to be afraid of them anymore? The San Andreas fault is the fault that everyone is afraid of. I will pray and pray until i fall asleep. Can anyone give advice on how to overcome this? It didn’t show until 2013, but it reached its paroxysm in 2014 and 2016. Something in the last earthquake had triggered that childhood fear, possibly about an earthquake, possibly about something else. Dogs barking or a truck passing causes me palpitation. On Easter Sunday at the home of my wife’s relatives, we were eating when a 7.2 earthquake hit. One good thing to use is mirror balls. There are reasons that someone may want to fear a poisonous snake since snakes can be dangerous and possibly cause pain. Just know that our lives are always full of obstacles and that we all go through all of it. March 18 of this year we had a 5.7 earthquake (not our big one) and I have literally freaked out. Geologists have identified 42 active faults on the island, but most of the earthquakes detected in Taiwan are due to the convergence of the Philippine Sea plate and the Eurasian Plate to the east of the island. Shaking land won’t kill you, collapsing buildings might, so the way I see it you should be safe. A national news article suggesting that … They believe earthquakes are part of nature’s way of eliminating large populations. But the more I learned, the more amazed I was by the power of Mother Nature and the ingenuity of engineers to construct buildings, roads and bridges that could resist the force of severe earthquakes. The phobic might even cry or scream at the thought of an earthquake. But people experience this anxiety in different ways. However one thing not to do with anxiety is to actually avoid it. People living in earthquake prone zones are most likely to develop this extreme fear of earthquakes. All my family is also in this city and they are not willing to move with me. This could trigger lifelong Seismophobia. I knew that earthquake rocking makes me sick. My husband said he feels terrible he didn’t take my fear seriously until it was too late. A person’s entire mental security can be undone in seconds. It’s really scary! When Loki, god of mischief and strife, murdered Baldr, god of beauty and light, he was punished by being bound in a cave with a poisonous serpent placed above his head dripping venom. Currently my house is in the process of being retrofit. I cant even take a breath without thinking of this natural disaster. Protect yourself from everything and be strong!! This in turn led to the fear of radiation or contamination of food. Northwest residents should channel fear of earthquake into pragmatic action. Post-earthquake impact, preparedness of megathrust earthquake, and fear of failure. I always feel an earthquake is happening. 03-19-2011, 11:52 PM mlarsen23 : 134 posts, read 287,103 times Reputation: 116. Don’t worry and just deal with it if it happens. I threw up on the morning after and I am still paranoid. To an extent we all fear earthquakes which are natural calamities over which one has no control. Me too. I still don’t love them. My husband tries to help me, but it’s in my head and I just need to work through it myself. To an extent we all fear earthquakes which are natural calamities over which one has no control. Glasses, plates and food started moving across the table. I have experienced the recent earthquakes in California and it really scared me. But if the fear of a potential quake that is designed to serve as a warning becomes an obsessive phobia, an individual should seek help from a qualified professional. I know how this kind of anxiety can take over your life, but there is a way to find help! Forming the Triangle of Life (Indoors) Use the Triangle of Life method. What’s worse for me is my fear of tsunamis! Ever since the 4.7 just a few minutes from where i live hit in the middle of the night, i am terrified to sleep. Just know you are not alone. And now, every time she thought about it, that childhood fear was triggered back into action. And with hundreds of vulnerable old buildings suffering from … This investigation adopted a quantitative approach, using SmartPLS, to survey 120 small and medium enterprises affected by the 2009 West Sumatra's earthquake. Your email address will not be published. I’ve been reading articles about the “Big One” and getting information about when it can strike. A wrench next to the gas valve, knowing where and how to turn off the electricity, first-aid kits, extra water stored in containers, enough food for a few days, a battery-operated radio, blankets a tent, and — significantly — a plan with members of your immediate family as to how to connect, and where to meet. I hope we all can find peace in ourselves to deal with our fear soon. unwarranted fear of earthquakes. No. The trouble stems from allowing a healthy respect to blossom into an unreasoning fear. I came to California in 1983, and I have been extremely scared of earthquakes. I got scared and ran, then later on I had to use the restroom and while using it, an earthquake happened and now the July earthquakes came. The ground in Poway began to move, the house began to shake. They also have to deal with shaking walls, overhead structures falling down, or damage in the form of cracked walls or glass. They can do online sessions and helped me so much. I have always been aware, and have tried to inform myself about the dangers. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2015 for the case of students at a high school in Mexico City; the sample size was N = 302. Last time I looked on my insurance policy an earthquake was described as an ‘act of god’. More personal I would say? And if it’s really too much for you – relocate to somewhere that doesn’t have earthquakes. I was so scared and wanted to get the next flight out home to the uk but my husband wouldn’t leave and everyone told me to stay. 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