More than one month has now passed since the devastating earthquake and tsunami. We have all spent the time since then in our own ways, but there may be those who recently found themselves vividly remembering that day one month ago, once again being assaulted by fear or sadness. There may even be those who have become physically ill, even as they were just getting their lives back on track.
A person's emotional state becoming highly unsettled on the weekly, monthly, or yearly anniversary of some big event is a known phenomenon in psychiatry, and it in itself is neither a disease nor is it abnormal. One cause of it can be emphasis placed on such anniversaries by television programs and newspapers.
However, as much as one tells oneself that "this is not abnormal," the emotional disturbance itself can be very hard to bear, and some people may take a further emotional hit by seeing a reversal in themselves after they thought they had made progress in recovering.
In the case of the recent disasters, the continuing aftershocks and developments at the nuclear power plant may have aggravated this anniversary phenomenon.
Preventing the occurrence of this anniversary reaction might not be possible. However, just knowing of its existence should take away some of the emotional burden of those experiencing it. If you find yourself thinking, "Lately, I feel somehow anxious, and I'm often crying," you can then think, "Ah wait, this may be my reaction to the one-month anniversary. It can happen to anyone, and it's OK," and it may become easier to let those bad feelings pass.
Furthermore, if one intentionally makes oneself aware of anniversaries and then passes them with an activity like offering a silent prayer, then I think one can reduce the feelings of uneasiness.
Thinking about it, after a disaster this huge, it is only natural that the path to recovery will not be a simple and straight one. It is extremely normal that people would feel anxiety during anniversary periods, going from having somewhat positive attitudes back to gloomy ones, and from having energy to losing it. Even if there are ups and downs, as long as the end result is recovery, there is no problem. No one should feel bad about themselves if they experience stalls or setbacks on their road to recovery.
In fact, I worry about those who have made themselves consistently positive and optimistic since the disaster, and whether built up exhaustion won't at some point overcome them, coming out all at once.
Amidst all of this, I don't expect that anyone can completely be their normal selves, and it's no mystery if something happens to our emotional states. Without being surprised or caught off-guard by any changes we find in ourselves, we should move forward, doing what we can, while not trying to do the impossible. There is nothing wrong with such a path to recovery, even if it's a bit of a zigzag. (By Rika Kayama, psychiatrist)
Click here for the original Japanese story
(Mainichi Japan) April 17, 2011
香山リカのココロの万華鏡：震災から１カ月 ／東京
震災から１カ月。それぞれの人が、それぞれのすごし方をしたはずだ。
中には、１カ月前のあの日のことが生々しく思い出され、恐怖、悲しみが再び襲ってきた、という人もいるのではないだろうか。生活がやっと元のリズムに戻りつつあったのに、また体調が悪くなったという人もいるかもしれない。
大きなできごとから１週間、１カ月、１年など節目節目のときに、感情が激しく揺れてしまう。これは、精神医学の世界で「記念日反応」と呼ばれる現象で、それ自体は異常でも病気でもない。テレビや新聞が「あれから１カ月」と強調するのも、この反応の引き金になることがある。ただ、いくら「異常ではないのだ」と思っても、それ自体はとてもつらく、「少しは立ち直ったはずだったのに」と感情の揺り戻しにショックを受ける人もいるだろう。
とくに、繰り返す余震や原発事故への不安が、１カ月目の心の反応をよりシビアなものにしているおそれがある。
この記念日反応自体が起こらないようにするのは、正直言ってむずかしい。ただ、そういうものがあると知っておくだけでも、心は少しラクになるはずだ。「最近、なんだかまた心がざわつくな。涙もよくこぼれるし。そうか、これが１カ月目あたりの記念日反応なのか」と思うと、「誰でもなることなんだから、だいじょうぶ」とやり過ごしやすくなるのではないか。また節目の時を自分であえて「あれから半年か」などと意識して、静かに祈りの時をすごすなどすれば、えたいの知れない感情による動揺を減らせると思う。
考えてみれば、これだけの大災害なのだから、立ち直りの道のりが一直線でないのも、あたり前。節目の時期に気持ちが揺れるのは、ごく自然のことだ。少し前向きになったかと思うとまた落ち込み、やる気があふれてきたはずなのに突然、無気力になる。山あり谷ありでだんだん、元気になっていけばそれでいいのだ。
復興の歩みの中で、停滞したりまた心が逆戻りしたりすることを、後ろめたく思わないでほしい。むしろ、発生直後から一貫して前向きで元気いっぱい、という人のほうが、いつかその疲れが一気に出るのでは、と心配だ。
こんな中、誰もがいつもの自分でなんかいられるはずがない。心にも何が起きても不思議ではない。驚かずうろたえず、自分の変化を受けとめながら、できることをできる分だけやっていく。できないときには無理をしない。そんなジグザグの歩みでいいはずだ。
英訳毎日新聞 2011年4月12日 地方版
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