Difficulty Sleeping and Quick to Anger: Signs of Trauma After a Disaster

Natural disasters not only leave physical damage but can also trigger mental stress in those affected. Psychologists say trauma after disasters often manifests in physical, emotional disturbances, and changes in behavior that are not always obvious. Psychologist from Ibunda.id, Danti Wulan Manunggal, S.Psi., says trauma is not always visible in someone who is crying or looks very sad. According to her, psychological pressure after disasters can appear in a variety of subtler signs. ‘Trauma is not always visible in tears,’ Danti said when contacted by Kompas.com on Sunday, 8 March 2026. Therefore, it is important to recognise the array of signs of mental stress that can arise after someone experiences or lives in areas frequently hit by disasters. According to Danti, some physical signs to watch for include sleep disturbances or insomnia, recurrent headaches, and unexplained digestive problems. These symptoms can arise because the body remains in a state of alert after a tense event. Danti explained that a person who has trauma can become more easily angered or feel highly sensitive to small things. In some cases, a person may also experience emotional numbness or feel guilty for surviving the disaster that befell others. This feeling is known as survivor’s guilt, i.e., guilt that arises because someone feels unworthy of surviving when others suffer losses. According to Danti, those who experience mental distress after disasters can also keep thinking about the worst-case scenarios that could happen.