Posted on 05/18/2021 5:30:04 PM PDT by lightman
Many Americans felt relief and joy at the announcement last week that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks at many indoor and outdoor locations.
But don't be surprised if those good feelings come tinged with stress or worry: Mental health experts said in a HealthDay Now interview that the COVID-19 pandemic has left a lasting mark on people's psyches, and folks will be struggling with lingering worry for some time to come.
"There's actually such a thing as post-COVID-19 stress disorder, which is along the lines of PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder]," said Sherry Amatenstein, a psychotherapist based in New York City.
"We lived for over a year with such fear and such uncertainty. Your body doesn't know what to do. Our cues are all mixed up. Suddenly what was verboten is supposed to be OK again. How do you react?" Amatenstein said. RELATED WHO: COVID-19 pandemic 'long way from over' despite vaccination efforts
Amatenstein speaks from personal experience. She's been fully vaccinated since February, but only now is starting to step back into public.
"I just actually did my first outdoor dining experience, taking a friend out for her birthday," Amatenstein said. "I told myself, 'well, look where I was a year ago and look where I am now. How did I do that?'"
Everyone is dealing with their pandemic year through a process very similar to the stages of grief, said Dr. Vivian Pender, president of the American Psychiatric Association.
During the past year, people have felt protest and shock and denial regarding the pandemic's many impacts on their lives, Pender said, and some now are moving forward with acceptance and reconciliation.
"That's, I think, happening to everyone. For those who have acknowledged that this has gone on, there's still been a tremendous loss -- loss of their way of life, loss or at least change at work, and change or loss of relationships as well," Pender said.
"I think the general impact of having a worldwide pandemic is going to take a long time for us to reconcile," Pender concluded. RELATED CDC: 2-dose COVID-19 vaccines 94% effective at preventing symptomatic illness
Amatenstein had a tougher pandemic road to travel than most. She was diagnosed with cancer about a month before New York City closed down in the face of the nation's first severe COVID-19 outbreak.
"I had to be in isolation, go to all my treatments alone, I had to have a COVID-19 test before every round of chemo, so it was very scary," she said.
Amatenstein completed her cancer treatment in October, but despite being healthy and fully vaccinated she's been hesitant to resume her life as before.
"It's difficult, especially when you have experienced trauma and fear yourself, to then venture out and start to live a somewhat 'normal life' when things are safer," Amatenstein said. "I was very grateful and remain very grateful that I did get my vaccine, but it didn't mean that my life changed very much, at least for a while."
For many people, they will ease back into regular life along with the "pod" of friends and family to whom they have been limited during the pandemic.
"A lot of people are still in their pods, their pods are getting vaccinated, and then you venture out little by little, step by step," Amatenstein said. "You know, when you're diving in the pool, make sure there's water in the pool."
However, Amatenstein counsels her patients that while they might have lost some things to the pandemic, they have gained others.
"I tell people all the time, what are the gains you've gotten from this?" Amatenstein said. "I was always afraid to be alone. I would do anything just so I wouldn't have to be alone and face the noise in my head."
For others, the pandemic showed them that life doesn't necessarily need to always move at a frantic pace.
"It's allowed them to step back and say, well, I don't have to be busy for the sake of being busy," Amatenstein said. "You can learn to more appreciate time and freedom, and what you really do value and enjoy doing in your life."
Pender agreed that for its stresses and challenges, the pandemic also brought some needed perspective to many people.
"Some people have taken stock of what's important to them and how they were living their lives, and have redirected the way they're going to go about their future," Pender said. "They've changed jobs and relationships and they're going in a more positive direction -- at least that's their intent."
"New ABnormal" occasionally.
Call me a COVID-denier, call me a Neanderthal, I never bought into much less accepted this stinking sack of s***.
Mostly true for me as well, yes
What does it take to convince you? The MSM screamed it night after night over and over. Everytime you turn on the news the fearporn oozed out as they told of the NEW cases. How many had it. How many had died from it (supposedly). But if someone dies of the vaccine - whoa! Hold the bus. Don’t jump to no conclusions. We need to make sure it was vaccine related (it wasn’t that way with Covid deaths - I wonder why). So if you’re still cornfused , just listen to Dr. Falsely. He’d never steer you wrong.
I find I now live in a sh*thole.
You are neither a denier nor are you a Neanderthal (at least only Joe Biden thinks you are). The fact of the matter is that a lot of people will have serious psychological trauma over this — PTSD / attachment injuries / chronic fear. People will return to normal, but given the 24/7 coverage which roughly translates to 24/7 worry that you are going to die (at least to those who delve into the media) it is easy to see. This will pass. And I agree there is no new normal.
Bet she’s making bank with the neurotics. 🙄
How did I know she’d be a psychotherapist based in NYC?
Probably because I grew up with her (or at any rate, her clones, who were legion and are probably all now psychotherapists) and I know that they were always self-centered, fearful and controlling.
I don’t care if they want to be crazy. Just leave the rest of us out of your craziness.
Ditto here. I've been social distancing since I retired in 2003. The only thing I gave up was meeting my friends at the local casino once a month, and that's only because they require you to wear a mask. Screw that.
It is truly sad how many people were their own jailkeepers.
Spoke last night with someone about 5 years older than me (I’m in the seventh decade) who basically did not see their own children and grandchildren for a year, except outdoor while wearing masks. Went to the grocery store every three weeks, only early in the morning in masks and gloves.
Pandemic paranoia put the OCD-inclined on megasteroids.
Oh, goody, an actual named diagnosis that people can glom onto instead of their masks. Some people love and need to have a diagnosis to tell other people about.
"We lived for over a year with such fear and such uncertainty.
No, mostly frustrated and irritated at all the idiocy on parade.
I know what you mean. The idea of quarantining the healthy is insane.
Yeah, mentally and emotionally weak people, who never learned to be self-sufficient, accept responsibility for anything, and relied on others their whole lives. Sucks to be them.
That's nothing. Ask them about their diets or vitamin supplements. You'll get plenty of "sharing".
I was never afraid of the virus. Even after I got it.
You and me both, I have not even put a mask on once. I’ve had a few guys want to fight. Today I had some lady try to get on my case rudely. I simply told her she lacks the intelligence to hold a coherent conversation, and anything I say as simple as it may be, will be so far over head an 8 year degree wouldn’t cover it. She ran off lol.
This whole thing has stunk to high heaven from the onset.
Perhaps the most disappointment I’ve had though is with the people on this site who I thought were conservative patriots. There are so many balless window lickers here, it’s depressing. Some even call themselves doctors. Either extremely ignorant or complicit. Either way, no friend of mine.
It’s going to get worse yet though.
Well, that may be a judgment, but it does not change the fact. While I am glad you are strong, we must have some degree of compassion for others who may be struggling.
The batflu exposed the lack of common sense and faith in God in this nation.
Spot on.
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