Concealed Bruises of the Pandemic: Striving to Improve! MindsetOpediaDMHC Blogs
- wiccinpwc
- Jul 21, 2022
- 5 min read
Concealed Bruises of the Pandemic: Striving to Improve!
“Whether an illness affects your heart, your leg, or your brain, it’s still an illness, and there should be no distinction.”- Michelle Obama
Over the past two years, the words "pandemic" and "trauma" have appeared in nearly every blog post and news story. But if you pause for a second, what exactly is "pandemic-induced trauma" in today’s world? Given how easily distracted humans are, two years is a long time to change anyone's mental pattern or perspective.
Trauma is, to put it simply, an extended condition of anxiety, which is, in layman's terms, a state of dread, unease, or worry. Many renowned psychologists and counselors address that a mental health crisis has been brought on by the pandemic, and its effects could continue for many years or perhaps decades affecting generations of families. It could be brought on by the loss of loved ones, career setbacks, ceased economic development, or even the disappointment of losing a priceless era in one’s life because time is truly irreversible. If you take a close look at yourself, you might discover that on the flip side of sound mental health is fear of uncertainty or unpredictability—about your education, jobs, relationships, personal finances, and health—which makes you fret the most.
As stated in the *United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Progress Report 2022, according to a scientific brief released by the World Health Organization (WHO) the pandemic has had a severe impact on the mental health and well-being of people around the world, and the prevalence of anxiety and depression has increased by 25% in 2020 among young people, and women most affected. By the end of 2021, things had considerably improved, but many people are still struggling to acquire the treatment and assistance they require for mental health disorders.
"I think the mental health issue is percolating, just like a virus incubating," says Laura Shannonhouse, associate professor of counseling and psychological services in the College of Education & Human Development. “We’re seeing little pieces now, but it’s like an iceberg. Most of it is still below the surface.” The quality of one’s life is determined by one’s mental health and well-being. One can never achieve other goals in life if they are not mentally in a positive spirit. Students and young people are openly discussing how their personal and professional gains have been halted or reversed as they navigate the tumultuous and ever-changing world.
The issue that follows is: What are the roadblocks that young people face while attempting to establish a stable and healthy attitude as we enter the third year of the COVID-19 crisis?
Social Media Non-Intentionality: Aimless looping, Irrational Peer Pressure, Addictive & Unproductive Climate
The pandemic brought people closer to applications on phones which are just a click away, making "bad habits" hard to avoid and "positive habits" like taking walks, journaling, and practicing mindfulness appear challenging. Increased exposure to distressing and unpleasant information on social media platforms and the consumption of addictive content rewire your brain to the point where you may begin hunting for a negative aspect in a piece of positive news and are tempted to check the latest happenings every few minutes bringing down the levels of concentration sharply. It has the power to affect your mood, increase your heart rate, disrupt your sleep, and might even make you feel numb and less compassionate towards yourself and society. You can reduce your unintentional use of social media by taking breaks, connecting with nature, scrolling in realistic timeframes, letting go of peer pressure, being judicious, and other intentional strategies.
Distress in the Workplace: "Traumatized" by Layoffs & Monotony, Promotion Denial, and Career Gaps
Young individuals worry about their future since they constantly want to advance and grow which is the reason why most find it difficult to adjust to the corporate world since it becomes monotonous after a certain point. The Pandemic brought in a wave of stressful economic events in the lives of professionals such as being passed over for promotions, being informed of layoffs, receiving pay cuts, being underpaid, or workplace toxic culture which makes them desperate to try and break the pattern. Sometimes looking at peers getting fatter paychecks, accelerated promotions, and grabbing dream jobs can make you question your worth in life. The work-life balance of the twenty-first century is being determined by those who take career breaks relating to their health and overall well-being. Around 55% of Indian workers, according to **India Today Report, are bullied at work, which can have serious effects on mental health and other concerns. You won't benefit from ignoring signs like sudden outbursts of emotions, numbness, lethargy, fatigue, or persistent pressure to overwork and outperform your peers thinking you are not doing enough. Setting yourself as a priority, becoming consciously aware of and recognizing your triggers, establishing concrete boundaries, taking time off, and holding onto hope are all important steps you can do to assist your self-care.
Medical Conditions: COVID-19, Anxiety, Past Life-Threatening or Traumatizing Incidents and Other Mental Health Problems.
Medical trauma is more likely to affect those who have had prior unfavorable and deplorable experiences in a medical setting that included harm, pain, and traumatic or upsetting treatments. All people experience trauma because the flashbacks of their environment keep resurfacing, just like our alarm clock snoozes every morning. This is true of mothers who have experienced trauma while giving birth to their children, cancer patients who worry about the recurrence of cancerous cells, survivors of cardiovascular diseases, and COVID-19. Also more likely to experience signs of medical trauma include hypervigilance, paleness, muscle tension, nightmares, and an enhanced startle reaction are women since they have higher rates of PTSD as compared to others and their ungoverned grief caused by toxic abuses can be blown out of proportion by anxiety and doubt. When used in conjunction with alternative techniques like yoga and professional communication, mindfulness can help attempt to gently alleviate the harsh truth and forge your inner strength to an extent that you can crush all your fears.
If a person is unable to empathize with others and with themselves, they can never make a great leader. Young people are the pioneers and trailblazers of tomorrow, many of them have already taken on duties in life. They will surely experience a variety of internal conflicts and problems, and overcoming them calls for strength of character and wit. One cannot overstate the significance of living a balanced life. For years, there has been a growing issue with mental imbalance, but today there is finally a discussion towards changing society.
Reaching the ocean when you are lost in a jungle is a challenging experience, but overcoming it and asking for assistance demonstrates your strength. Even though these circumstances may make you feel hopeless and incapable, do not doubt your emotions in the slightest as they have substance. Do not allow yourself to be influenced by fads, prejudices, or societal paradoxes. You can process and heal from this fundamentally dark zone with the aid of your mind and the community. So are you willing to control uncertainty by building your certainty by having faith in and confidence in yourself? Have your own back, no matter what!
By,
Shruti Bansal
Council Member
WICCI-DMHC
CITATIONS:
Such a well written blog…Excited for the day when you come up with your book
Very well put together blog 😊
Well researched blog...great efforts!🌟