03/21/2020
Hello Everyone,
The consensus is that we are living in a new age with the onslaught of Covid-19. This deadly form of the Coronavirus has touched every segment of the world. The news coverage has everyone on edge. The United States government information to the public resembles the stock market-credible one day and filled with erroneous information the next. No wonder people are confused, anxious, fearful, paranoid, and engage in xenophobia.
As anxiety grips, the soul of America, understand what it is. Perhaps, anxiety is causing you or your children to have short fuses or to interact differently. Many people are experiencing Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). This disorder involves excessive, unrealistic worry for the person, even if there is little or nothing to provoke anxiety. Anxiety is low-key and chronic, and the person does not experience panic attacks.
Acute Stress is another mental health condition frequently experienced in people who are unable to control their lives. Acute Stress is the development of characteristic anxiety, dissociative, and other symptoms that occur within one month after exposure to an extreme traumatic stressor. Some of the features of Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) include:
• Difficulty experiencing pleasure in previously enjoyable
activities
• Difficulty concentrating
• Experiencing the world as dreamlike or unreal
Trauma is the response to a deeply distressing disturbing event that overwhelms an individual’s ability to cope, causes feelings of helplessness, diminishes their sense of self and their ability to feel the full range of emotions and experiences. Vicarious trauma, also known as secondary trauma, can be described as indirect exposure to a traumatic event through first-hand account or narrative of that event.
Emotional Symptoms of Trauma Physical Symptom of
Trauma
sadness dizziness
anger altered sleep patterns
denial changes in appetite
fear headaches
shame gastrointestinal problems
Problem Solutions for Corvid-19
(1) Watch TV two times a day instead of all day. Watching the news all day may result in vicarious trauma.
(2) Exercise
(3) Spend time with your children drawing, painting, playing
board games. Help your children and yourself to use
creative imagination.
(4) Write in a journal. This is an excellent time for self-
reflection.
(5) Develop short-term and long-term goals.
(6) Sing or play music
(7) How about this novel idea-house cleaning
(8) Keep in touch with friends and family using Google-
Hangout, Skype or Zoom
(9) Make origami
(10) Enjoy the comforts of aromatherapy at home
(11) Read
(12) Watch comedies
Most people are prone to fear versus focusing on this crisis as an opportunity for personal growth and enrichment. Since we are to “shelter in place,” why not get to know and understand yourself more. How about learning to communicate with family members with love and compassion. This is a time for prayer and grace. Instead of pointing fingers to who, what, where and why, let’s treat each other with dignity and respect as researchers and leaders find solutions for keeping us all safe.
