Millions of people are struggling to rise above the chaos around them. During a time when the word pandemic is on everyone’s minds, anxiety, depression, and PTSD soon follow. Anxiety and depression are common in times of chaos. But many may wonder how PTSD, a term usually used in the context of former military service people, has found its way into a pandemic-stricken society. Here’s how PTSD applies to our world today.

Post-Trauma Parallels

PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a known by-product of scenarios that wreak damaging havoc on emotions. PTSD has been associated with:

• Witnesses of violent assaults
• Those who have dealt with natural disasters
• Military men and women who have been in war/combat
• Situations that insight terror
• (And more recently) adults and children experiencing a pandemic

The SARS outbreak in 2003 is a prime example of how traumatic the threat or presence of a virus can be. Close to half of the SARS survivors studied in Hong Kong showed symptoms of PTSD. Isolation can trigger many unhealthy emotional responses. Many SARS sufferers could have used a positive outlet to turn to get the support they needed.

Diagnosing Your Distress

How do you know if you are suffering from PTSD? The next plausible step is to perform a self-evaluation. What emotional episodes are you dealing with daily? Have you ever experienced any of these reactions/responses in the last few days, weeks, or months?

• Realistic flashbacks of past traumatic experiences
• Dreams that cause distress, fear or worry
• A pattern of avoidance that keeps PTSD sufferers away from things that trigger negative emotions, thoughts, or reactions
• Emotions such as guilt, shame, horror, anger, and fear
• Insomnia, angry outbursts, self-destructive behavior, and addictions

If you’ve been a victim of or experienced any of the emotional elements of PTSD, you need a listening ear to guide you to a healthier outcome. Your quality of life shouldn’t suffer because things out of your control are affecting how you think or feel. PTSD behavioral therapy during these times is a necessary part of helping you move past the turmoil.

PTSD Counseling for Coping

PTSD counseling has helped millions of people overcome the “shell shock” of PTSD. You can only cope for so long before extra support is necessary. ACT Teletherapy can help you live better and thrive despite uncertainty. With an online resource like ACT Teletherapy on-call to bring hope amidst the chaos, there’s no pressure–only positive results!