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Source: ONE News
Domestic violence levels remain high six weeks after the 7.1 magnitude earthquake that struck Canterbury.
The September 4 shake led to an influx in calls to help lines and counsellors. Many are still dealing with a large number of cases.
Canterbury University clinical psychologist Fran Vertue said domestic violence has increased 50% since the earthquake struck.
"The domestic violence increase is because of the raised anxiety level.
"When your arousal rate is high, it doesn't take much to set you off into a powerful fight or flight reaction," she said.
Vertue said many couples are also struggling to deal with sleep deprivation.
"Parents are as frightened, if not more frightened, than their children, which means they are sleep deprived.
"You're less tolerant, you're less able to manage the way you feel," she said.
Cantabrians are dealing with the earthquake in different ways. Vertue said some have come out fighting, while others have gone into flight mode.
She said the people in "fight" mode are wound up, tense and can be triggered off easily.
Those in "flight" mode have fled the area or gone quiet.
Vertue's advice to those affected by the quake is to focus on the basics.
"This is not a time to be thinking about the meaning of life, this is the time to make sure you have food, shelter, warmth and that you somehow get some decent sleep."
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