Introduction
Currently, an extensive number of external and internal factors, which are the result of psychological problems in individuals, have been identified. They have a serious contribution to the mental state and can lead to long-term injury. Extreme natural factors are particularly critical, the study of the influence of which should be given particularly close attention. Thus, the research topic of this work is the study of the impact on people in stressful situations and the psychological consequences of the influence of extreme natural factors on a person.
First, it is necessary to gain an understanding of what natural disasters are. Most often, they represent the consequences of the impact of human activity on the environment. Among them, there may be the use of land for production or entertainment purposes, which brings significant damage to it. A detrimental consequence of this aspect is the violation and disturbance of ecological balance, which subsequently brings suffering to people.
The study of various environmental issues cannot be limited to the analysis of the destructive influence of man on nature. It is reasonable to investigate the social and psychological aspects of environmental ecology. One of them is the infliction of physical and moral harm to individuals who had to survive the disaster (Makwana 3090). The strongest imprint is left by the collision with the death of loved ones and grief. Thus, exposure to a traumatic event such as an environmental disaster can lead to the development of serious psychological abnormalities and disorders, which can lead to a general deterioration in the well-being of society.
A particularly valuable insight regarding the experience of experiencing a natural disaster is provided in the book by Dave Eggers called “Zeitoun.” In this paper, the author describes the events that happened to real people during the terrible Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005. This is a story about the life of a single family, both before and after the storm. Through multiple chapters, Ator describes the main experiences and emotions that people experienced when they found themselves in these terrible circumstances. Thus, this work is relevant for the study of how stressful situations and extreme natural factors have an impact on the psychological state of a person.
The book is written from the words of the Zeitoun family: this is a documentary narrated by Abdulrahman and Katie Zeitoun. They talk about the imprint the tragedy left on them, describing their emotions in a dynamic, strong, and very intense way. The author very clearly paints a picture of the tragedy that the protagonist had to go through. Natural disaster in the book is compared with a heavenly punishment. The author states in the beginning that “the only thing that came to his mind was the Last Judgment, Noah and rain, which lasted forty days and forty nights” (Eggers 93). He points out that mental pain in such situations is more often stronger than physical, that “at some point, it occurred to Zeitoun that the cause of the pain was not infection or trauma, but despair” (Eggers 154). Therefore, the topic for discussion in this paper is reactive emotional states that develop during natural disasters and catastrophes.
Application
The next aspect that needs to be considered in the framework of this work is the application of the information received about the problem under discussion. Therefore, this issue applies beyond the concepts of the book, and it is a worthwhile problem to research. This is due to the fact that it is no coincidence that a person’s psychological well-being is correlated with the influence of environmental factors, including natural ones.
Environmental safety is one of the concepts that must be considered in this framework. It is one of the vital components of the national security of society and the state (EKU). Environmental safety is usually examined in the categories of protection of the natural environment, man, and individual groups of people from the harmful influence of anthropogenic and man-made factors, including natural disasters. Psychopathological disorders that arise from extreme and traumatic situations have many similarities with clinical disorders that develop under normal circumstances. The main characteristic of these consequences is the surprise of a collision with stress, which leaves a crucial imprint on the psychological state of individuals.
However, there are also significant differences, which makes this a worthwhile issue to research. Because extreme situations include many traumatic factors that can suddenly occur, people may experience a large number of mental disorders at once. This presents a great challenge and an area of concern for both the people themselves and others around them. Secondly, the clinical picture in these cases is not strictly individual, as in normal traumatic circumstances, and is reduced to a small number of quite typical manifestations. Specific attention must be paid to the fact that people are forced to continue their lives and deal with the consequences of psychogenic issues. This must be done for the sake of survival and preserving the lives of people that are valuable to the individual.
Reactive states that develop during natural disasters and catastrophes belong to a large group of psychogenic disorders, among which neurotic and pathoharacterological reactions, neuroses and reactive psychoses are distinguished. Their study is necessary since disasters of various kinds occur regularly, and a deep consideration of their psychological consequences can help victims restore emotional health. Moreover, it can contribute to the improvement of policies and approaches to assist those who are faced with this life-threatening problem.
Expectations
In the course of the research, I expect to learn differentiated consideration of clinical forms and variants of psychogenic disorders, their differentiation from a wide range of neurosis-like and psychopathic conditions. This also includes features of analysis, assessment of the dynamics of the condition, and paraclinical studies. In addition, I would be interested in identifying both non-pathological physiological neurotic phenomena, such as stress reactions and adaptive reactions, as well as neurotic reactions, states, and reactive psychoses. In each of these diagnostic groups, there are features that determine the medical-organizational and therapeutic tactics, which are also advisable to investigate.
The study of the mental disorders observed in extreme situations, as well as the analysis of the entire complex of rescue, social and medical measures. This makes it possible to schematically distinguish three periods of development of the situation in which various psychogenic disorders are observed. The first acute period is characterized by a sudden threat to one’s own life and the death of loved ones. The consequence of this option are the emergence of emotional distress, which is reflected in the strong impact and pressure on the psychological state of people. Thus, anxiety, depression, or even post-traumatic syndrome may occur, which is characteristic of experiencing events such as natural disasters.
In the second period, which takes place during the deployment of rescue operations, figuratively speaking, normal life begins in. Individuals gradually gain the opportunity to evaluate what has happened to them and find the coming mechanisms suitable for them. At this stage, it is critically important to determine the correct direction of recovery, which will not lead to a deterioration in the psychological well-being of a person. Most often, the process of somatization occurs, which implies the translation of internal experiences into a physiological state (Zbidat et al. 8). Therefore, for individuals, it is of particular importance to share their experiences and experiences with others and involve specialized services that will help avoid deterioration of mental well-being.
Conclusion
In conclusion, conducting research on how stressful situations caused by natural disasters negatively affect the psychological state of a person is of great value. This is due to several factors, one of which is the strongest traumatic shock that individuals experience due to the unexpected event. The book by Dave Eggers called “Zeitoun” provides an important insight into what feelings and emotions people experience when natural disasters occur and how they affect their mental well-being. Of particular importance is awareness of the problems that have arisen and finding coping mechanisms that will help avoid negative consequences, for example, such as somatization. In addition, often, the causes of these disasters are human activity that harms the environment and, thereby, themselves. Knowledge of this aspect will allow people to develop safer and more sustainable methods of environmental treatment. Therefore, it is necessary to study this topic in detail and spread awareness in society.
Works Cited
Eggers, Dave. Zeitoun. Vintage Books, 2009.
Makwana, Nikunj. “Disaster and Its Impact on Mental Health: A Narrative Review.” Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, vol. 8, no. 10, 2019, p. 3090.
“What Is Environmental Health and Safety?” EKU, Web.
Zbidat, Ali, et al. “The Perceptions of Trauma, Complaints, Somatization, and Coping Strategies among Syrian Refugees in Germany—A Qualitative Study of an At-Risk Population.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 17, no. 3, 2020, pp. 1-15.