Living in Disaster-Prone Areas, Residents Are Often Haunted by Anxiety

Some people living in disaster-prone areas often feel anxious when it rains. This sense of worry arises from experiences during previous disasters. A psychologist explains that this reaction is a normal mental response when living in an environment that frequently experiences disasters. Psychologist Danti Wulan Manunggal, S.Psi., of Ibunda.id, says that people living in disaster-prone areas often experience a heightened state of vigilance. She said this when contacted by Kompas.com on Sunday, 8 March 2026. According to her, the situation keeps people in a state of readiness for the possibility of danger. These feelings can arise when someone hears heavy rain, thunder, or sees natural signs that remind them of past disasters. This condition can cause the mind to stay in a state of vigilance. As a result, mental energy can be drained because one feels they must always be ready to save themselves. These feelings arise because the brain continually prepares itself to face possible danger. The situation can make a person feel mentally fatigued even when no disaster is actually happening. In the long term, this condition can affect an individual’s psychological well-being. These feelings arise when a person feels that anything they do will not be able to prevent the disaster from coming. “This condition makes people feel that disasters will still come and spoil everything, whatever is done,” Danti explained. The feelings can make a person feel resigned to the situation they face.