Covid-19 Negative Long-term Impact
Humans are remarkably resilient in the face of adversity. Our ability to work around obstacles, solve problems, and bounce back is well documented. There has always been, and will always be, those who feel untouchable, who lives their lives as though they are invincible. And the opposite is true. There are those who feel powerless, lack efficacy, and experience life as a scary, painful place to live, through no fault of their own. Just as life taught the first group that they are untouchable, so too has life taught the latter group that life is a dangerous place. Covid-19 will highlight the differences between the fearless and fearful. If personally touched by the virus, those who felt invincible will be momentarily humbled. Those who were not impacted will continue to feel invincible. Those who felt vulnerable will feel more unsafe than ever. Anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders will increase among this population. All of us must work together to develop and enforce policies for personal safety and the differences amongst us will be highlighted. If we don’t approach the subject with compassion and sensitivity, there could be a widening discrepancy and polarization between the two groups with those who lack efficacy being pushed aside.
Jenny DeReis, MC Psych., CCC
Walmsley EFAP