Pandemic PTSD?

PTSD (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder) is a set of reactions that can occur after someone endures a traumatic event. In the first days and weeks after a traumatic event, people often experience strong feelings of fear, sadness, guilt, anger, and grief. As they begin to process what happened to them, these feelings typically subside. Most people will recover especially through the support of family and friends. For some people though, a traumatic event can lead to mental health issues such as “posttraumatic stress disorder” (PTSD), depression, or alcohol and drug use. In fact, research suggests that 5 to 10 percent of people will develop PTSD due to a major world event such as a pandemic.

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors are bracing themselves for a likely surge of PTSD in patients, particularly patients who also work in the healthcare field. Healthcare workers have been put under immense stress in order to fight the pandemic and it’s important that they take care of themselves.

PTSD can manifest itself with some of the following symptoms:

• Intrusive thoughts about the traumatic event
• Avoiding talking about the traumatic event
• Avoiding places or people that remind you of the event
• Sudden changes in mood
• Becoming easily agitated or triggered
• Difficulty concentrating
• Trouble sleeping
• Being easily frightened

If you suspect that you may be suffering from PTSD, Sensenbrenner Primary Care is here to help you. You are not alone. Please call us to set up an appointment to talk with a medical professional!