Whats Your Thinking.

[nicebloke1]

Seeing these young kids being dragged out of the rubble in Turkey and Syria the past days, I can't get my head round, how most of them all seem to be so perky and alert, I've not seen one coming out in floods of tears.
Its difficult to comprehend how a young child can be trapped for hours on end, without food or water, in freezing cold conditions, not to mention the sheer terror, I mean, they must have been scared witless. I think the panic of being trapped underground would have been enough to finish me off in the first 2 hours.

So my question is, are we just seeing kids that have been scared witless, and are emotionally numb, and have done all the crying that's possible to the point of their body shutting down to any further emotion? Would be interesting to hear your view.

[gness]

Like you, Nicebloke I know I couldn't survive in those conditions for long. I can't get in a lift if I feel there are too many in already.
I guess it's as you say, completely numb and closed down after being trapped for so long.
I had a google around after your post. There have been studies done on children who have survived earthquakes and the life long after effects they suffer.

[roopower]

It's difficult to comprehend what they have gone through and will continue to go through. I suspect there will be many mental and emotional problems ahead of them, particularly if they have lost their family. Children are very resilient, far more than most adults but this is a huge tragedy for them.

[nicebloke1]

I did wonder if I had answered my own question gness, but I did see many of them smiling when presented to the waiting crowds cheering, so there was still some kind of emotion there, regardless of what they had been suffering.

[nicebloke1]

roopower, resilient for sure, but like you say it may be delayed terror?

[gness]

Must admit the smiles and sometimes the joy shown to rescuers has puzzled me. You just want to hug them.

Saddest story today. Five children and their parents were rescued alive. They went to stay with relatives and all perished in a house fire.

[nicebloke1]

Didn't know about that gness, that is mega crap.

[Ken4155]

It could be that while trapped under all that rubble for days on end, they have gone through the 'fear' barrier and, for a time at least, are nub with shock. Then they hear voices from above, particularly ones they recognise, and the fear simply drains away from them to be replaced by utter relief and no small amount of joy.
I just hope they continue to bring 'live' ones out.

[naomi24]

I’ve seen some children crying - but what chilled me the most was when rescuers found a poor dead woman who had given birth alone under the rubble cradling her live baby in her arms. Unimaginable.

[nicebloke1]

Yes , that did send a chill up my back naomi, baby doing well the last I heard.

[andres]

It's not only the children. Most of the adults being pulled out alive and those who survived the earthquake seem remarkably calm . I think it is because they accept these things as being God or Allah's will.

[gness]

That’s an interesting thought, Andres for those old enough to do that.
When a rescue is successful Allah is first to be thanked.

[Zacs-Master]

'are we just seeing kids that have been scared witless, and are emotionally numb, and have done all the crying that's possible to the point of their body shutting down to any further emotion?'

Yep, I'd say that's it. Shock is a very powerful trigger for the mind going into a different state.

[douglas9401]

Thanking Allah for one or two survivors when tens of thousands are pulped is perverse.

[andres]

Their faith is so profound that as gness [email protected] the first thing they do if they are Muslims, is to thank Allah.

[nicebloke1]

I dont think there will be anyone thanking the builders by what I've seen and heard. One chap they interviewed this morning said, even before the EQ, you could touch a building with your hand, and it would turn to sand.Concrete very poor.

[237SJ]

And still people on AB (and elsewhere) complain about the minutiae of life. Makes you think, doesn't it.