The world’s eyes are currently placed on the psychical devastation in Lebanon, but underneath the dust and the rubble, sits the psychological effects of this catastrophe. And while debris can eventually be cleared and houses can be rebuilt, the trauma of the explosion will leave a deep, lasting scar.
Initial reactions to traumatic events can include confusion, disorientation, agitation, guilt and difficulty sleeping, which can develop into longer term conditions such as anxiety and depression. It is therefore, more important than ever, that those who have been affected by the blast receive the support, guidance and treatment they may need.
“The people I have spoken to in Beirut are definitely experiencing an acute stress reaction,” says psychologist and founder of Lighthouse Arabia, Dr. Saliha Afridi. "Acute stress disorder is a psychological condition that is diagnosed when an individual has been exposed to a traumatic event, symptoms can include numbness, reduction of awareness in surroundings and dissociative amnesia.
