A New Psychological Aftershock
A growing number of people across Türkiye say they feel tremors that never occurred, a phenomenon specialists are calling phantom earthquake syndrome. The condition manifests as persistent sensations of shaking, dizziness, or imbalance in the absence of seismic activity.
The syndrome has become particularly widespread in Balıkesir’s Sındırgı district, where more than 16,000 earthquakes were recorded in the past three months. Yet experts warn the phenomenon is now emerging nationwide, affecting residents far from active fault lines.
The Role of Anxiety and Vigilance
Psychiatry specialist Burak Amil explained that the term is relatively new in medical literature but is increasingly recognized through case studies.
“Earthquakes can temporarily disrupt neurochemical and physiological processes in the brain’s balance centers, leaving individuals prone to reliving the sensation of shaking,” Amil said. “People may enter a state of vigilance as if a quake is occurring, even in complete stillness.”
He added that anxiety disorders, panic attacks, and acute stress responses heighten the likelihood of such perceptions. Constant monitoring of seismic updates through mobile apps and social media has further amplified public anxiety, with many residents interpreting even the slightest vibration as a potential quake.
A Nation on Edge
The spread of phantom earthquake syndrome underscores the psychological toll of living under constant seismic threat. Türkiye, straddling multiple fault lines, has long endured devastating earthquakes. Now, experts say the fear of tremors is reshaping daily life, even in regions where the ground remains still.
Earthquake Myths Through History
- Japan: A giant catfish, Namazu, was believed to cause quakes when it moved beneath the ocean.
- India: The Earth was thought to rest on four elephants standing on a turtle balanced atop a cobra.
- Norse mythology: The chained Fenris Wolf shook the mountains with his roars.
- Greece: Poseidon, god of the sea, was blamed for quakes.
- New Zealand: Mother Earth’s unborn child, Ru, kicked and stretched, shaking the ground.
- Mexico: Legends claimed El Diablo split the earth with crevices to stir up trouble.
Whether rooted in neurochemistry or ancient folklore, earthquakes continue to shake not only the ground beneath Türkiye but also the minds of its people.
