Psychological tremors continue into 1995
By Betty Song
Although last year’s Northridge earthquake lasted about 30
seconds, the psychological effects of the event continue to impact
the lives of those who lived through it.
Within the past year, there has been an increase in the number
of students who have been feeling more vulnerable, said Harold
Pruett, director of UCLA’s Student Psychological Services. He added
that it is difficult to know how much of their stress level is
related to the earthquake.
"We have had people come in specifically talking about the
earthquake," Pruett said. "(They are) usually people whose lives
were disrupted  people who have had to move, people whose
families lost their houses, but not as many as we would have seen
if we were in Northridge."
Although the UCLA campus suffered less damage than California
State University at Northridge, Bruin students and faculty who live
near the epicenter were equally affected.
Quake anxiety still haunts Carol Weinstein, fiscal officer for
UCLA’s Center for Student Programming, who lost her home and
belongings when her Sherman Oaks condominium collapsed.
"The thought has never left my mind," Weinstein said. "Before, I
slept like a log, but now I wake up for a few hours every
night."
In spite of the quake’s capacity for devastating destruction,
the event left a positive impact on third year history student
Scott Berger and his family. Although Scott’s home bore the brunt
of the quake in the Northridge epicenter, he said the experience
has brought the family closer together.
"(You can see that) in the past year by the amount we talk and
spend time together," said Berger, who had to wait six to eight
hours from his home in Westwood before confirming the safety of his
parents. "We learned how frail life can be," he added.
With the quake’s anniversary today, Pruett said it is normal for
people to anticipate an increase in general stress levels,
uneasiness, apprehension and wariness. He added that difficulties
in sleeping are also common.
Weinstein said that the anniversary has indeed heightened her
anxiety level, which was aggravated first by three large
earthquakes in Japan earlier this month, and then by increasing
television coverage of the event.
"(Last) Monday I woke up at three o’clock in the morning with a
total anxiety attack (where) I was replaying the event in my mind,"
she said.
To alleviate her fears, Weinstein decided six months ago to be
in Las Vegas now rather than remaining in the area during the
anniversary.
Jill Preston, a third year sociology student, is feeling
apprehension similar to Weinstein’s. Parts of Preston’s Northridge
home were condemned as a result of the quake, and it is now being
rebuilt.
"I wish I could erase the day so that we didn’t have to
celebrate it," Preston said. "You could call it superstition, but I
have bad vibes about the date, like thinking ‘what if it happens
again?’ But I don’t think it’s going to happen."
Preston added that she also sensed a lot of anxiety from people
who live in the San Fernando Valley, and was angered by those who
think earthquakes are fun.
"A lot of people think earthquakes are fun, and ride them out
like roller coasters," Preston said. "That pisses me off because
(earthquakes) kill people, and ruin people’s lives."
For several months after the quake, Student Psychological
Services held workshops and distributed pamphlets on how to cope
with the disaster. The organization will determine if there is a
need for support groups to cope with the anniversary as students
come in, Pruett said.
For assistance dealing with the anniversary of the Northridge
earthquake, contact Student Psychological Services at 825-0768 or
825-7985. Other groups providing counseling in the Los Angeles area
include Project REBOUND, which is funded by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA). For information, call (800) 854-7771.