Understanding PTSD and Depression During the Pandemic Watch Volume 4 - Issue 5

Kristi Kanel*

• Professor, Department of Human Services California State University, Fullerton, CA 92831, USA

Received: November 06, 2020;   Published: November 30, 2020

Corresponding author: Kristi Kanel, Professor, Department of Human Services California State University, Fullerton, CA 92831, USA

DOI: 10.32474/OJNBD.2020.04.000199

Abstract PDF

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Abstract

The Covid 19 Pandemic has affected everyone worldwide. It has been especially challenging for the United States due to politicization of how to best manage it. For the past eight months, the USA, along with the rest of the world has been on Pandemic Watch. This wording is used to replace terms such as ”stay at home”, “quarantine’, and “lockdown” since currently none of those things are really being enforced in the USA, although some countries do actually lockdown individuals, and some people who may be infected are asked to quarantine for two weeks. The focus of this paper is to develop an understanding of the psychological, emotional, behavioral, and social effects of being on Pandemic Watch has had on people, with a particular focus on US citizens. It will be suggested that Pandemic Watch is a better suited name since it most of us have been in an ongoing state of watching, waiting and being hypervigilant. This article will attempt to connect this state of Pandemic Watch to the depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) being experienced, primarily due to unknown end to the pandemic, not knowing how one will react if they get infected, not knowing if one will get infected, loss of freedom, loss of significant other, loss of jobs, and loss of normal life style. Additionally, the added stressors of the Presidential election, political divisiveness and racial unrest will be discussed as to how they also affect individuals during the pandemic.

Keywords: PTSD; Depression; Pandemic; Grief; Loss; Hypervigilance; Racial Unrest

Abstract| Introduction| Theoretical Frameworks for Understanding Responses to the Pandemic Watch| Discussion| References|