Rika Kayama
In addition to the giant earthquake on March 11 and the tsunami it generated, more and more problems have occurred at the quake-hit nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture. Although their homes may have been spared from the tsunami, it is difficult to imagine the feelings of those who have had to evacuate from areas around the plant because of radiation.
One result of the plant crisis was that residents in the Tokyo metropolitan area were advised to not to allow infants to drink tap water. Levels of radioactive substances over health standards had been detected at a water filtration plant in the capital, spreading anxiety among many people.
Because of all this, I am now seeing patients visit my consultation room saying they are worried about radiation.
One said, "No matter how much I wash my hands, I can't shake the worry that they might be tainted with radioactive substances."
"I felt nauseated after drinking tea made with tap water," another said.
In one extreme case, a person had been refraining from deep breathing out of fear of inhaling radiation, and they panicked after feeling a pain in their chest.
Although these people are probably overly worried, the effects of these worries should not be taken lightly. The worries themselves can make people feel ill, adversely affecting their work and daily lives. Overly worrying can make it impossible for us to make calm judgments, discouraging us from doing something, or conversely making us act impulsively. These worries can be more harmful than the reality that has spawned them.
The other day, I had an opportunity to talk with people in quake- and tsunami-hit areas.
"Many people in Tokyo who are scared that tap water might be contaminated with radiation have stocked up on mineral water," I told them.
"We here are glad just to have our tap water running again," one of them responded.
It is true that the crisis at the nuclear plant does not paint a pretty picture. It is feared that radioactive contamination of air and soil could continue for a long time. However, it is a big problem that some people outside of the disaster-hit areas, who need to support those in them, have stricken by panic and cannot lead their lives normally.
Close attention should be paid to the crisis at the nuclear power plant. However, I would like everyone to keep in mind that worry can breed more worry, robbing us of our judgment. We should continually ask ourselves if our worry is constructive, and try to stay calm when we can.
There are many people in the disaster-hit areas who can't wonder about whether or not to drink tap water because it's not running in the first place. While keeping that in mind, let us continue to keep watch over the development of the crisis and live our lives. (By Rika Kayama, psychiatrist)
Click here for the original Japanese story
(Mainichi Japan) April 3, 2011
香山リカのココロの万華鏡：不安が判断力を奪う ／東京
地震や津波に加えて、原発の被害が拡大している。震災で家がなくなったわけではないのに、地元を離れて避難しなければならない人たちの無念さは、どれほどのものであろう。
首都圏でも「乳児には水道水を飲ませないで」という呼びかけが行われ、多くの人が不安を感じている。診察室には早くも、「手を洗っても洗っても放射性物質がついている気がして」「水道水でいれたお茶を飲んだら吐き気がした」などと訴える人が訪れ始めている。「呼吸するだけで放射能に汚染されるのでは」と深い呼吸を控えているうちに、胸が苦しくなりパニック状態に陥った人もいた。
おそらくそれらは“気のせい”なのだが、だからといって軽く考えることはできない。場合によっては、本当に体調に変化が生じ、仕事や生活に支障が出てくることもある。
「こうなったらどうしよう」と悪いことを先取りして感じる「不安」は、私たちにとって最大の敵だ。気持ちを萎縮させ、冷静な判断ができなくなり、動きを止めたり衝動に走らせたりする。考えようによっては、実際に起きている困難以上に有害だともいえるのだ。
先日、被災地の方と直接、話をする機会があった。「東京では水道水を怖れる人がミネラルウオーターの買い占めている」と話すと、「こっちは水道が復旧しただけで大喜びなのに」と言われた。
たしかに、原発の状況は予断を許さず、今後、長期にわたって大気や土壌の汚染が続くことが懸念される。しかし、いま被災地を支えなければならない人たちまでが、不安からパニック状態に陥り、自分の生活を送ることさえできなくなる、というのは大きな問題だ。
原発の問題は、これからも目を見張り、耳をすまして注意を続けたい。ただ、ひとつ、覚えておいてほしいことがある。それは、いったん「不安」にとりつかれると、それは雪だるま式に増大し続け、私たちから思考力や判断力を奪ってしまう可能性がある、ということだ。「私の感じている『不安』は、必要以上に膨れすぎてはいないか」と、常に自分に問いかけて冷静さを取り戻す必要がある。
「水道水を飲んでよいかどうかという前に、その水がまだ出ないのだ」と言っている人たちも、いまだに被災地には大勢いる。そのことを心にとめながら、事態の推移を見守り、自分の態度を決めていきたい。
No comments:
Post a Comment