While the physical shakes seem to be getting less and less and I can’t wait until they are over. I think that we will have the mental shakes for some time. We have experienced a very traumatic event and we are reacting in different ways and at different times. Many people I know are feeling tired and irritable and are feeling “low grade” depression or sadness. It seems to come out of nowhere and often does not last but it is difficult while we are living it. I have had lots of advice about how to help people deal with their pain, uncertainly, fear and anger and it is all good stuff. Counselling, exercise, a holiday, talking with friends, the list is endless and is good advice as we work our way back to some sort of pre quake condition. The trick seems to be to find what works for you and that gives you hope for the future.
My main source of help is to talk about the quake with others. This weekend I had friends from out of town to stay and at the risk of boring them I spoke, almost nonstop about the quake. I told them where I was, how strong the quakes were, how I felt and the effect the quake had on me. I insisted showing them where buildings were taken down and the ruins of other buildings. The more I spoke the more I seemed to want to say to ensure that my friends knew what it was like for me. I was lucky as my home suffered no damage and Mission property was largely untouched but I still had the need to talk about my experience.
I know that it is now time to get on with life and start rebuilding but those of us who have experienced the earthquake have a bond. We were united in hardship and remain united in a common experience. As a city we behaved well. We endured the great earthquake of 2010 and we survived.