Trauma and Covid-19

Trauma is a word that seemingly only sparks an ‘extreme’ when we think about it. By definition, trauma is a deeply distressing or disturbing experience and we tend to look at trauma as abuse, death or even serious physical injury. We are at a disadvantage when it comes to trauma and the way it is portrayed in today's society. Our experiences are all subjective and what happens to us ultimately gets filtered through our perception of how we think things should happen and what we have previously experienced in past events. Unfortunately, we are not fully exposed to the idea that everyone, at some point in their life, experiences trauma and those feelings also need to be addressed irrespective of whether we label it as an ‘extreme’.

Right now, the world is simultaneously experiencing trauma and it will have an adverse effect on how we live our lives moving forward if we do not acknowledge it, accept it and work through it.

We must diminish the idea that we are immune to trauma and start to accept that we are experiencing it. In one fell swoop, we have had our daily routines not only disrupted but also withdrawn. We are beings of repetition and habits that we adopted from the moment we learned to walk or learn a language. We had a daily routine from the day we started schooling and suddenly, without a choice that has been changed. It is deeply distressing to have something you are very used to, very quickly removed.

While we are currently living in very uncertain times, it does not mean that we cannot adopt a new perspective on our circumstances. Just as we have spent our lifetime learning routines that suited us, we can quickly adopt new ones with the willingness to try. We are masters of communication, navigation and cultivation and have the resilience to be able to overcome this as a whole. In order for us to not become engulfed with fear and anxiety we must try to recognise that although we are going through distress, we can pave a way to find solace in where we stand today.

Self-care tips:

• Keeping or scheduling a regular daily routine i.e. get up, get dressed, exercise.

• Journaling

• Regular meal times

• Limit news & social media coverage of CV-19

• Meditate

• Learn a new skill or language

• Enrol onto an online course

• Connect with friends & family

• Personal space

• Talking therapies