The American Psychoanalytic Association (APsaA) has come out with a description of the “normal abnormal” stress that the Pandemic has induced. Here’s what they say:
PTSE can be caused by having to adapt to a prolonged “pandemic way of life”, filled with uncertainty, fear, and loss. We see that grief over what’s been lost, concerns about how to navigate pandemic life, and relentless worry about the future can increase our experiences of depression, anxiety, sadness, loneliness, relational conflicts, substance abuse or misuse, and even violence.
“All of us are experiencing some level of PTSE,” said Todd Essig, co-chair of APsaA’s COVID-19 Advisory Task force. “However, our responses can range from subtle to serious and are different for different people. In fact, while features often reflect the harmful consequences of accumulating stress and trauma, some individuals and communities respond with resilience, altruism, creativity, and by building stronger relationships and neighborhoods in the face of such an experience.”
By outlining the various responses to COVID-19, APsaA hopes to distinguish PTSE from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a diagnosable mental disorder for which PTSE is frequently confused.
What PTSE Looks Like:
For individuals:
Fear of catching COVID and getting sick
Fear of giving COVID to others
Worry about scheduling or finding a way to get the vaccine
Worry the vaccine will cause COVID, won’t work, or won’t last
Fear for the future, weariness for the present, and grief for a lost past
Increased frustration and despair
Increased withdrawal, isolation, and fear of others as a source of infection
A grinding weariness and decreased attention to personal and public safety
Loss of focus, both on specific tasks as well as general goals
Increased mental mistakes, a kind of fuzzy thinking
Hypervigilance to potential loss, injury, and illness
Realistic worries about finances
Disruptions of normal patterns of behavior
Closer family ties and reliance on friends
Increased altruism, including worry about others
For individuals with a positive test
Fear of dying alone
Fear of infecting loved ones
Fear of or adaptation to mental or physical long-term effects
Loss of income
Fear of being isolated and ostracized
Enhanced responsibility to protect others by not transmitting COVID-19
For communities
Increased fear, xenophobia, violence
Worry the vaccine won’t be distributed fairly across racial, gender, ethnic groups
Decreased community cohesion for some communities
Loss of financial and human resources
Overburdened infrastructure
Cultural disruptions
Increased volunteerism and community cohesion
Expanded entrepreneurial and creative activities
Growth in political and social engagement
“It is important to understand that PTSE is not a diagnosis or disorder. It is a shared community phenomenon centered on adapting together,” said Jeff Taxman, member of APsaA and the COVID-19 Advisory Task Force. “However, if you are overwhelmed by loneliness, worry, or sadness you should ask for help when needed and accept help when it is offered.”
Fear and confusion about the coronavirus pandemic can be overwhelming and affect our mental health. Learn more about Pandemic Trauma and Stress Experience (PTSE). High levels of stress can also weaken our immune systems, making us more susceptible to physical illnesses. So while it is normal, in fact adaptive, to have some level of anxiety about coronavirus, fear of the unknown, nonstop news coverage, misinformation, physical distancing/isolation, and video footage of empty shelves at grocery stores can increase anxiety to unhealthy levels.