By Shahida Arabi, PsychCentral, March 19, 2020
You are probably already familiar with CDC health guidelines regarding the prevention of Coronavirus already: wash your hands with soap and water for at least twenty seconds; frequently disinfect commonly used surfaces; stay six feet away from others during social distancing; stay home as much as possible; self-isolate if you are sick. Yet during this pandemic, we have yet to discuss the unique challenges that trauma and abuse survivors may face when they are forced to self-isolate more than they already have and encounter barriers in accessing the support systems they had in place in every facet of their life. Nor have we discussed how the pandemic may be worsening the behavior of those who often terrorize others during particularly vulnerable times – as narcissists are prone to doing. Although this is by no means an exhaustive list, here are three ways trauma survivors are being affected, especially if they are survivors of narcissistic individuals, and tips on how to cope.
1. The exacerbation of trauma symptoms and preexisting conditions.
Some trauma survivors may notice an uptick in their symptoms during this time, including increased anxiety, depression, and hypervigilance due to the pervasive and invasive nature of the pandemic. The majority of those with PTSD have at least one other comorbid mental health condition, and those with PTSD tend to have a greater severity and frequency of health problems and medical conditions; this can be due to the long-term activation of biological stress pathways, like their HPA axis over-releasing the stress hormone cortisol, which decreases immune activity (Pacella, Hruska, and Delahanty 2013). People with PTSD may also have a “hyperfocus” on their somatic symptoms and this anxiety can reach catastrophic proportions during a pandemic. Those who are immunocompromised, have chronic illnesses or struggle with physical injuries and disabilities can feel overwhelmed by the additional challenges and fear caused by this health crisis. Some already self-isolate and find themselves feeling even more isolated as a result of the crisis, which can worsen their health problems.
Comments (0)