▲ National Trauma Center Logo (Source: Center KakaoTalk profile)

Have you ever heard the word trauma or PTSD? Trauma is an intense emotional shock thathas a lasting effect on the psyche and can cause a number of mental disorders. PTSD is an acronym for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a condition in which a person experiences a serious event such as war, torture, natural disaster, or an accident, and then experiences a fear of the event and encounters pain through psychologicalre-experiences after the incident. Also, it is a disease that consumes energy to escape from the pain, which negatively affect normal social life.

Firefighters, Rescuers, and Police Officers who carried out rescue activities with the people at the scene of the Itaewon crushing disaster on October 29, 2022, as well as those who watched the video of the disaster through social media are also suffering from PTSD. Paramedic A, who conducted emergency rescue activities at the site of the disaster, said, "After the accident, I wasn't sleeping through the night." A police officer who was dispatched to the scene also said, "The situation at the scene was that there was a father-in-law, and the body still does not leave my mind." The aftermath of this disaster does not only apply to those who were directly at the scene. The Itaewon disaster was delivered to all people through newspapers and broadcasts, as well as through social network services (SNS) such as YouTube. Everyone has heard the news directly or indirectly. In this situation, people experience the mirror neuron phenomenon. A mirror neuron refers to a phenomenon in which the nerves related to the image work conducted in the brain, while looking at the image of another person. Exposure to irritating audiovisual media should be minimized, as the brain creates the illusion of being in the situation. Once PTSD occurs, it tends to become chronic and is often accompanied by secondary problems, so it must be recognized and treated early.

A program is underway at the National Trauma Center to help overcome trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder. Counseling is available through the Mind Program application and the National Trauma Center Kakao Talk. We hope that people who are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder will use it to help them recover.

By Nam Chae-young,cub-reporter  ncy0618@naver.com

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