As we continue to come back to our work and regular routines post-COVID-19 we are realizing that it has taken a toll on many individuals. Some of those we are encountering have gone through some serious trauma, emotional duress, coping struggles, anxiety and depression. Individuals who we thought were dealing with life extremely well can manifest behaviors and emotions that we thought would not happen to them.
In an article published in the National Herald Psychologist Dr. Amita Puri wrote an article that discusses some of the unpredictable emotions and conditions that are occurring in patients as a result of this extreme period of isolation and the ensuing re-entry.
Here is a part of this compelling article.
Shreya Kapoor (name changed), cheerful and strong, returned to her office two months after the lockdown as a completely changed person. Employed in a senior position in a multinational company, she is no longer the confident person she was before the lockdown. A smart and chirpy 34-year old, she now breaks down and cries at the slightest trigger.
She is not alone. People across the world are experiencing anxiety attacks, panic and confusion. They are stressed and unsure of the future. Cases of depression have increased and even normal looking people, stoical and uncomplaining, trust me, are not immune. Indeed, most people remain oblivious that they are under stress, that they need medication or expert help. Being stressed is the “new normal”.
The article continues to discuss other examples and helps to normalize these symptoms as a predictable result of COVID-19 coping.
It is probably more unusual that we would not have enduring effects from this significant period of isolation and displacement in our lives. It is important to find individuals that we trust or a good therapist to help us process all that has happened so we can learn to cope with our new normal, which includes the realities that COVID-19 is not resolved by any means. We all need to learn how to help one another find coping skills for what we have just experienced. I hope this article can help us understand how this period has had such significant impact so we can take some growth steps together as we re-enter our respective situations.
Gerry Vassar
President/CEO
