![]() Our nervous system is stuck on high alert, and we are jumpy and on edge. We may be eating more or less than usual. Our minds are busy and racing with thoughts of what if, when, and how this will all end. We are not just staring into space or crying into pillows - we are also feeling the physical effects of pandemic trauma. Sometimes it takes a headache, cold sore, or lack of appetite for me to realize how stressed I am. We may also blame ourselves for the trauma or see ourselves as weak for not handling it better. Trauma can make some folks feel an overwhelming sense of distrust: everyone and everything about our world is dangerous and unsafe. ![]() Some feel a sense of survivor’s guilt or shame for getting well or not suffering more than others. These types of responses can include feeling guilty that more wasn’t done to prevent something bad from happening. If we can control our environment, then maybe we can create the proper narrative to understand senseless damage. When we experience a trauma, our brains start to tell us lies - sometimes to try to protect ourselves or to make sense of what we are feeling. Reach out and talk to a therapist, friend, or loved one about what you are feeling. Any and all reactions are valid vulnerability can lead to a sense of helplessness and can trigger depression. This was not the case, but I beat myself up thinking it was. For a long time I didn’t think I was capable of crying and thought I was broken. Some folks will cry multiple times a day and others may feel what I call “emotional constipation” - when I can’t feel anything or summon even one tear. It’s also normal to disconnect altogether from what you are feeling denial and numbness are common trauma responses. It’s normal to have outbursts of anger, anxiety-filled word tangents, or breakdowns of sadness and grief. I am trying to embrace the fact that my emotions swing wildly from day to day, sometimes hour to hour. I have had to remind myself that while I may be feeling the same emotions, the happenings are different. Every bad thing that has happened to me feels like it is repeating, and it’s right on the surface again. I live with PTSD, and the new layers of unease, anxiety, fear, discomfort, and sadness have stirred up a lot of these feelings that are tied to old events. Psychology Today reminds us that what sometimes feels like a living nightmare can also cause actual nightmares: “The nervous system has taken a major shock, and even in our sleeping hours the brain continues to process the event.” This adds to the crappy sleeping patterns that can also accompany trauma. Some folks may also have panic attacks or nightmares. Old traumas are manifesting in flashbacks, vivid dreams, and the replaying of old memories. Many of us are reliving past experiences that have traumatized us. Old Traumas Repeatedįor me, the new trauma of the pandemic has triggered old ones. Here is what traumatic stress may look like. It’s normal - and common - to have a trauma response to what is happening in the world right now, and your reactions to the pandemic can be different from day to day. It can also come from a loss of “normal,” isolation, and fear of the unknown. ![]() Let yourself feel all of the things and be mindful that trauma will manifest in both emotional and physical ways.ĬOVID-19 related trauma can come from the loss of a loved one, seeing the devastating loss of life on a global scale, losing a job, and showing up for a job and putting yourself and family members at risk. It’s normal to feel anxious, tired, or even numb right now. While some people will suffer greater losses and struggle more than others, we are all living through a traumatic event and experiencing distress on some level, whether psychological or physiological.įirst of all, there is no right or wrong way to feel. First responders, vulnerable folks, housing and food insecure, immunocompromised, and marginalized folks will suffer losses that will make it harder to financially and emotionally recover. The consequences of the pandemic’s impact will vary from person to person and family to family we can’t deny that some suffer disproportionately from this pandemic.
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