I presented this very question at the end of presentation on trauma to a group of Psychology high school students. The results were mixed. Some stated it didn't interfere with their life, and others considered it a life altering event.
My answer was, "it depends". One's circumstances and worldview has a large impact on how they perceive the pandemic of such a large magnitude on the present and future.
The pandemic created fear, uncertainty, and scarcity for everyone involved. Schools shut down, jobs were lost or shifted to WFH, and the misinformation spread like wildfire through social media, TV, and news radio. Family disconnection, social isolation, loss of social norms, and hiding behind masks became the norm.
For someone who prefers to be homebound, is physical healthy, and resourceful in getting their needs met, this would probably not be traumatic at all. It would be as the world is humming along as it should.
Across town, there could be someone who lost someone to COVID and doesn't have the capability to grieve with love ones, have closure, and can't plan a funeral. They could be overcome will sadness, loss, and a feeling of defeat.
For an individual who saw it as a chance to explore other career opportunities and work on themselves to get their needs met and reinvigorate joy in their life
In another scenario, in already tumultuous circumstance, a set of parents were forced to work from home while having a dual role of helping their kids with home school. The amount of stress and pressure mounts and increases the risk of domestic violence or abuse.
In many situations, it was an opportunity to slow down and reprioritize what is most important to that person and fix, repair, and develop a close relationship with family members and use that time to spend quality time together.
For front line workers, nurses, and doctors this was an overwhelming experience and put an incredible amount of stress and sense of being overwhelmed day in and day out. Often times fighting a losing battle and feeling hopeless and helpless combined with those who had to suffer alone to the end.
There are countless stories of heartbreak and hope in this period of time
How do we know if the pandemic had an effect on individuals?
Here's the official definition of trauma according to SAMHSA
Trauma results from an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life-threatening & and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning & and mental, physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well‐being
With the event being the pandemic, the other two factors revolve around the experience of the event and the negative behavior, cognitions, or mental effects related to the experience(s).
Some of the trauma responses include:
- avoidance
- more isolation
- hypervigilant in cleanliness
- hyperarousal in public
- panic attacks
- overthinking
- low self-worth or confidence
What are ways to manage the effects of the pandemic and get back to what we perceive as a sense of normalcy?
- reconnect with family and friends
- set boundaries of what you are comfortable with
- connect with a therapist to process the trauma
- reinvest in yourself
Thank you for reading