November 21, 2022, at 13:21:10 WIB, may be a moment that will be remembered throughout the life of the Cianjur people. A magnitude 5.6 earthquake from a depth of 11 km shook the earth. The epicenter was in the Cugenang sub-district, which of course suffered the most severe damage. As a form of concern, not only in the form of food supply and other needs, trauma healing material becomes an important thing that we must start to pay attention to.
Earthquake
In the span of more than 15 years of living in Cianjur, I often experience earthquakes. It's just that the epicenter of the earthquake came from outside Cianjur, such as Sukabumi, Banten, Lake, or other areas. Sometimes the vibrations feel quite large in a few seconds but, especially in our place, rarely cause significant damage.
Unlike the case with the earthquake that occurred 2 weeks ago, because the epicenter was on land with shallow depth, severe damage struck many areas, not only in the Cugenang area but also spreading to other sub-districts, including Cilaku sub-district, my uncle's family home.
In less than 24 hours, I started to get news from my uncle's family. Electricity has been on since night until the phone battery can be charged, even though it alternates. Thank goodness everyone is healthy and safe.
In anticipation of aftershocks, my cousin's sister and her husband sleep initiative by rolling out a loan tent in an empty field right in front of the uncle's house. Thank God they are deft so that the needs of the family can be met immediately. The first step is to secure uncles, aunts, other elders, and children.
Food Stock
Because it never thought there would be a disaster, there was no abundant food stock in the house. The next step is to buy instant food supplies (i.e., noodles, nuggets, sausages, and others), eggs, gas, and rice to be available in the next few days.
Actually, Zauji and I intend to come directly to Cianjur to deliver food but high security risks make us choose to transfer the amount of money to spend directly in Cianjur after making sure there are still neighboring stalls that are open. In addition, because to cover the cracked and collapsed roof, plastic carpet is very necessary because the rain still often pours in Cianjur, especially at night.
We also began to raise donations from family and some close friends. Not only for the uncle's family but also for other families affected. Because the affected area is very large, many people have not been touched by aid. My cousin's younger brother, who happened to be working as a teacher, began to be contacted by his students, who asked for help.
On the deal, our donation is to buy necessities such as food, pads, Pampers, soaps, drugs, and others. On day 2, there are many minimarkets that serve buyers. My cousin and her husband began to act as guerrillas to distribute donations to remote areas. It seems that in the early days of the earthquake, new aid went up to the area on the side of the highway only.
Trauma to the child
Every morning, I call to make sure my uncle’s family is fine, healthy, and not lacking anything. Until the 7th day, the uncle was still sleeping in the tent. Especially aftershocks that come unpredictably often come at night.
I also ventured to video call in order to meet the face of my uncle and aunt because my mother also felt worried about her condition. Thank God everything is fine even though the gnawing, tired, and afraid look is still visible, especially on my aunt's face.
That’s when I realized there was something else from one of my nephews who was usually cheerful. This time it is more likely to be quiet and not talk much when it is usually always cheerful. I also asked my cousin, who said that the last few days his first child, who is in grade 4, was quieter.
Only then did it cross my mind that it should not only be food needs that must be met but also the psychic needs of both children and adults must begin to be considered so as not to cause trauma.
I began to ask my friends about post-dated trauma material that can be done easily at home.
Quoted from various sources, stress is different from trauma. Stress is a physical or psychic reaction caused by an uncomfortable condition due to changes, while trauma is a physical or psychic reaction in the form of extraordinary stress caused by sudden unpleasant experiences, as in the example of the earthquake that we have just experienced. Trauma will usually be seen for approximately one month after the incident.
Trauma can cause post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, and other mental health disorders and certainly should not be left alone. Early treatment should be done to prevent the effects of prolonged trauma. I also took the opportunity to talk to one of my friends who works as a psychologist.
From him I finally got a lot of new knowledge related to trauma or trauma healing counseling. Trauma is not only experienced by adults; children can also experience trauma.
After telling me about my family in Cianjur, my friend gave some tips, especially for the children. What can adults (parents/children/others) do to overcome trauma in children?
Normalize Children Feelings
The reaction my niece gave was still relatively normal when someone had something extraordinary. Silly, being alone, crying, and screaming are natural reactions because the child shows fear of the screams of people around when the earthquake occurs, moving ground, damaged houses, and adult chatter around the child. At present my niece is still categorized as stressed due to the earthquake experienced.
Especially in the age of grade 4 elementary school, children can already think of analysis if the earthquake turns out to cause death or damage to the house, which is certainly scary and causes greater concern when compared to children who are younger.
Adults should understand the reaction as part of the child’s expression. Even the reaction of a flat child becomes an indication that it is not good.
Inviate the child to recognize, understand, accept and communicate his emotions
And if the child may not be able to express his feelings, the child can be asked to express his feelings. But avoid the question of how the earthquake occurs because it can reawaken bad memories in the memory of children that make them afraid and uncomfortable.
Questions can be replaced in other forms such as
“How do you feel now? Sok atuh says the same Uwa (Bude)!”
“Yes, yes... if Uwa is there, you must be afraid too!”
"In Bandung there is also an earthquake, and Uwa and Embah in Bandung are also equally frightened."
The child will know that the feeling he experienced was natural because even adults could experience it when the disaster comes anytime and anywhere. It’s just that it’s possible for adults to be able to overcome their fear.
Let your child cry when the child wants to cry. Don’t force your child if you don’t want to tell stories. And most importantly, children should not be left alone because children have not been able to filter their feelings. And do not compare with other children who are more cheerful and strong because the child will feel weak while other children do not. Girls may be more sensitive when compared to boys.
Make a child comfortable
Do suggestions, especially before bed, with touch or breathing techniques of relaxation to slow the heartbeat.
Touch can be interpreted as a form of affection that can eliminate worry. Children usually have certain points, such as the head or back, that make them feel comfortable so that they can fall asleep. Give suggestions that children are protected by the presence of parents beside them.
Motor Activity
Allow the child to perform normal activities involving motor skills without prohibition under the reach of adult supervision.
What activities can be done?
Cycling (this is what my nephew did around the field), tell stories by drawing or painting. This motor activity helps negative energy out of the child’s body, which helps the child release bad memories.
Let the child draw as freely and as naturally as possible and reward them if necessary. No need to be directed to make the image as good as possible. Let your child tell me about his bad experiences through pictures.
Reading or watching movies is less recommended because it tends to be passive and does not emit energy.
Adults can also ask for children’s help when preparing food, accepting donations, or doing other things so that children feel they are doing something good for others.
Trauma Heing Child Assistance
Trauma healing is an attempt to heal a person from trauma. Trauma healing is usually done one month after the disaster but first aid on the psychological victim of the disaster needs to be done immediately in less than 3 days. Of course this can have its own obstacles because at that time the victim was preoccupied with the fulfillment of physical needs such as food and shelter.
Currently there are many mentoring or trauma-healing therapies carried out by several institutions or organizations after the disaster. There are many methods of trauma healing that are done for children and adults.
In simple terms, post-dural trauma healing material for children can be done at home with various methods of trauma healing in children, such as play therapy). With play therapy, children can express and release their emotions freely (emotion release) and help children articulate what is felt and entertainment activities are meaningful (fun activity).
Emotion Release
Painting the Body and Coloring
This activity aims to help the child reveal what is felt. This activity is suitable for PAUD children up to elementary school grade 3.
Tools and Materials:
Large-size plain paper (e.g., plano paper or manila carton)
Marker/ballpoint pen/any color pencil
Paint the wall with various water-based colors (basic colors are more recommended so that children learn to mix colors).
Unused bowls or containers
Large brush
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| Source: Kompas.com |
- Put tools and materials in areas that are easily accessible to children
- Plain paper title
- Ask your child to sleep on paper
- Image the child's body by tracing around the child's body using a marker/pulmonary/pencil
- Color the pattern of the body that has been formed with paint according to the will of the child
- Once done we can ask the child why choose a certain color on certain parts of the body
- Do not interrupt or give any instructions
Playing Sand and Figure (Sand Play)
Although it looks simple, playing sand can help children transfer personal experiences to game shapes by creating a sand and three-dimensional world. In addition to expressing feelings, emotions, and problems, this activity can increase self-awareness and communication.. |
| Source : Instagram Disdikpora, Kab Cianjur |
By playing with sand, children can build stories through their imagination according to what has been seen and felt.
Tools and Materials
Bashes containing sand or soil
Animal toy figures, humans, trees, houses, and others.
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Way
Prepare tools and materials to make children easily reachable
Let the child choose his own figure he wants to use.
Let the child play as much as possible according to what he thinks.
Occasionally we can be questioned about the child or about the activities carried out, such as "What did you create in this basin?" and "Accompanied by lions and horses, what is in your story?" (in the language of children, of course!)
Do not interrupt or give any instructions.
Fun Activity, Storytelling
Storytelling can be done using a family finger doll using cloth. Tell me about the story of toughness and patience in the face of disaster.
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| Source : Instagram Disdikpora, Kab Cianjur |
Motion and Songs
Invite children to do motor, language, social, and emotional activities through easy songs accompanied by entertaining, funny movements.
This post-discriminate healing trauma material can be a friend of Menong modifications according to your needs. The most important goal is that the child can still pass through this disaster in good physical and psychic health.
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