Depending on who you talk to, you’ll get various opinions about the state of the COVID-19 virus in the U.S. But my sense is that, at least in CA, a majority of people think that we are through the worst of the Pandemic. Most of the people in my closest friend group are fully vaccinated, and from talking to them, our collective anxiety has lessened.
We hung out with them last weekend. My buddy DJ and I talked without masks from a “regular” distance. And I didn’t even think about distance among the rest of us. It felt “normal.”
And underneath the rest of it, I feel pretty regular. I felt a little down yesterday for a few hours and I’ve been anxious other times. Sometimes it’s harder than others, but I’m definitely within my “normal” emotional range. I anticipate that there will be times that my emotional struggles will be a bit harder, but I’m confident that I’ll work through it. I have a therapist and am connecting with the people I love. My parents are moving back to CA, and we’ll definitely see them. That will help. Mental health is a priority for me. It’d be hard to do what I do if my emotional state is out of control.
Unfortunately, though, I’m not optimistic about the emotional state of many. Maybe I’m exaggerating, but since very early on in the Pandemic, I felt like the number of people who will die directly and indirectly for the impacts of the COVID-19 virus will exceed those who have/will die from the virus. I’m talking about people who will/have committed suicide due to factors like job loss, housing instability and other traumatic factors. Substance abuse is up, and I expect that overdoses and deaths are up. I think the number of people who will die/kill others in drunk driving accidents will increase. (I also know all the rest of the bad stuff is up: domestic violence, child abuse, etc.)
Talking like a therapist, we are/will see an increase in the number of people diagnosed with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Without getting stuck in the nitty-gritty of the disorder, it involves things like distressing memories/nightmares/flashbacks. It can come from witnessing traumatic events or learning about someone close to us experiencing traumatic events. PTSD is persistent and long-lasting. Life can become unmanageable.
Fortunately, there are things that can help with the overwhelming feelings that are coming with post COVID-19 PTSD. As always, I see the road to healing starting with self-care. We can connect face-to-face with the people we love. (Those Zoom calls sure have lost their appeal!) We can go back to the gym. (I haven’t gone in 400+ days.) We can start eating better. We can meditate. We can write in a journal. We can go back to church. Etc…
Unfortunately, in many cases, specialized help is necessary. I think a higher number of people than usual have started medication for depression/anxiety. I also know that therapy can help. I and all my colleagues have never been this busy. There are also specialized therapy treatments for PTSD.
If you find yourself spiraling downward and not feeling better, reach out. There is hope when people feel hopeless.
Until next time.