Phantom Earthquakes– a legit thing?
A 5.2 earthquake hit in a neighboring state one night with aftershocks felt in Indiana where I live.while I was sleeping it jarred me out of bed and I now wakeup occasionally in the middle of the night feeling what can best described as "phantom earthquakes." I checked the Earthquake website [http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/] and there is nothing that validates my slumberous tremors. (SIDENOTE: Although I just updated 10 minutes later and surprisingly there was a 6.4 in Russia– but I find that somewhat besides the point.)
I don’t necessarily have a fear of earthquakes. Ever since the one we had felt it has caused me to wake up several times in the middle of the night feeling like there was a trembling occurring, none of which have been confirmed on the above website.
I have Googled my heart’s desire to find out if this is a legit thing I’m experiencing…phantom quakes. Any help and serious answerers would be helpful! Thanks.
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2 comments
Trish JPA and Jewish Pastafarian on August 3, 2010 at 3:09 pm
To me, it sounds like your mind is fearful of another quake, even though you consciously know that it’s not too likely. You were awakened very suddenly, and that means your body probably started to produce adrenaline; we know that adrenaline helps "write" short-term memories to long-term memory. Your mind may be re-playing the incident and awakening you. I’d suggest talking with a doctor and/or therapist; you need to deal with the memories, even though you know in your conscious, waking mind that you’re not especially afraid or worried about quakes. It could even fall into the realm of post-traumatic stress.
As to "legit" – if it’s happening, it’s happening. I don’t think it needs to be any more legitimate than that to seek a little assistance.
Emily on August 3, 2010 at 3:09 pm
There is such a thing as Phantom Earthquakes or as science calls it Orphan Earthquake.
Earthquakes happen all the time but most are to small to feel them though but every so often though we will get the ones that we can feel.
Think of the outer making of a pie or a cake. The Earth is made just like that the continents and the ocean plates are contently sliding into each other. The continent going under the ocean plate over time the friction from these two forces sliding into each other is what causes an Earthquake.
Where you live is near the New Madrid Fault-line there have been Earthquakes in that area in the past and there are going to be more in the future.
I live in Virginia (the Richmond area) and even this area is prone to having Earthquakes as well. The only thing you can do is protect yourself before, during, and after an Earthquake.
Another thing is this the reason you felt the Earthquake in your area is because you felt the shock waves from the Earthquake.
When an Earthquake stronger than a 1.9 on the Richter scale is felt shock waves from the quake are felt 100 of miles away. Once I felt an Earthquake that happened in Maryland all the way to where I live about 200 miles away from the epicenter.