Üsküdar University Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan met with professionals at the event organized by NEWSPDR. In the interview on 'Post-Disaster Expert and Client', Tarhan stated; “We disturbed the balance of nature, and now we are paying the price for it. There is a law established from creation. If that law is not adhered to, the price is paid. If you change the course of water, you will pay tomorrow; if you build on a riverbed, you will pay the price. In fact, a mentality that does not value scientific knowledge was buried under the rubble.”
“Protecting oneself by forgetting is one of the methods of self-deception”
Üsküdar University Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, who stated that the post-disaster shock period continues in the online program, expressed that the pain of trauma should be experienced. Tarhan; “The shock effect continues. Acute stress disorder is very common in the first 2-4 weeks. Under the influence of shock, some people withdraw into themselves and become passive. Some people become aggressive. Some people become numb, staring blankly and talking. This can vary from person to person and last for a few weeks. This is an expected situation. Under the influence of shock, the brain protects itself. Excessive stress hormones are secreted, which activates all the cortisones in the body. Energy flow, information flow, and signal flow in the brain are blocked. The brain shuts itself off to new stimuli. Because if a new stimulus came, the person would have a schizophrenic breakdown. Just as a person whose arm is broken doesn't move it, automatically passivates their arm so the fracture doesn't worsen. In such a situation, the brain also passivates. Various reactions emerge, but this situation is natural in the initial acute stress phase. If this condition does not pass later, it turns into post-traumatic stress disorder. Generally, it is necessary to wait 8 weeks to make this diagnosis. So, we need to wait 8 weeks. We must live this grief, we must experience the pain of this trauma. If we don't, if we don't feel a responsibility or regret about it, its consequences will emerge later. We will experience this, and it will be a lesson for us. Afterwards, we will develop precautions and necessary sensitivities regarding it. Humankind protects itself by forgetting. Protecting oneself by forgetting is one of the methods of self-deception.”
“Normalizing has therapeutic value”
Underlining the disadvantage of making sense immediately after the disaster, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan made evaluations regarding trying to understand the situation and normalizing it. Tarhan; “Initially, making sense was very risky. Because when you made sense, the earthquake had just occurred, and the wound was fresh. When the wound is fresh, for a person to console themselves with 'It was fate,' you would incite rebellion against fate. But now, after a certain period, people need to ask 'What are my responsibilities?' and act on them, but they need to set aside half an hour for these matters in a day after a certain period and return to their normal lives. Because 4 weeks have passed, and we, as professionals in this field, need to gradually enable normalization because normalizing has therapeutic value. One needs to say, 'I have lived this sorrow, I have grieved.' They will live it and then normalize. Here, one needs to ask, 'What have I learned?' Everyone should take a notebook; 'What conclusions have I drawn individually, as a society, and in terms of business ethics?' and write down the answers to these questions.”
“What disturbs humans the most is uncertainty about the future”
Emphasizing the need for a mental refuge, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that in situations where human power is insufficient, a rational mental refuge serves as a source of solace. Tarhan; “In such extraordinary situations, when a person takes refuge in a creator, they find solace. They not only find solace but also add meaning to life. It eliminates uncertainty. What disturbs humans the most is uncertainty about the future. Because it eliminates uncertainty and adds meaning to life, such high emotions and high belief systems create a mental refuge. The person takes refuge in their mental refuge. There, they relax. There, they get rid of fears. Just as one finds comfort and security by taking refuge in a cave when a storm breaks out in the desert, a person wants to take refuge in their mental sanctuary in such situations. We will create that refuge. The refuges must be rational. When a person reads the Holy Quran, they see that everything is wonderfully clear and definite. Nothing is left uncertain. Everything is always given meaning. Death, life after death, the good and bad things we do in this life are given meaning. This relieves people by freeing them from uncertainty. That is why this method of coping with religion is a source of solace in situations where human power is insufficient. Of course, this is for the believer.”
“It is necessary to activate the neuroscience of intention”
Emphasizing the importance of establishing a sincere and secure bond with children in the earthquake region, Tarhan said; “It is necessary to establish a secure relationship, a secure bond, which we call a therapeutic alliance. For this, it is important for the child to start a relationship with someone they know. If they start with a trusted person, the child will have a 50% head start in such situations because they trust that person. Furthermore, in therapeutic relationships, the neuroscience of intention has been extensively researched in recent years. In the feeling of intention, along with empathy, the feeling of intention activates mirror neurons. When you raise your arm, if the other person is looking at you, their brain also activates with the raising of your arm. It mirrors. It acts similarly to wireless internet. Similarly, there are also emotional mirror neuron reflections. Emotions such as fear, joy, and sincerity vibrate similar mirror neurons in the other person's brain. This creates trust towards that person. If a person is sincere in helping the child, the child will test them once or twice. They will get upset, object. They will refuse, try to provoke, and then see that this person is good. Because they are scared. To gain trust, some things want to reveal the bad within them. Children do this. Paranoid individuals do it consciously. They say no to reveal the worst part, the bad intention within you. In such situations, if the person shows their sincerity, good intentions, and determination, after a while they will say, 'I acted prejudicially,' and change themselves. Therefore, it is necessary to activate the neuroscience of intention here. When we activate it, especially children on the other side are already looking for a safe harbor. Those children will not forget this. That child will never forget you. You plant such a seed in the developing soul of that child that it connects them to life.”