Doctors, nurses, paramedics, LPNs, ARNPs, and many others are on the front lines of the COVID-19 Pandemic. They are helping us fight this terrible disease, putting themselves in danger at times as well. COVID-19 is an extremely dangerous disease by itself but with some hospitals experiencing a shortage of supplies, and an overwhelming amount of patients the situation is even worse.
Many medical professionals are worried about catching COVID-19 themselves, infecting others, including those they love. And you just have to turn on the news to see how many other medical professionals have already gotten sick or died. These are very real traumatic events they are facing. Real life and death situations.
We hear a lot about medical professionals taking care of themselves physically, needing to clean their hands and wear proper personal protective equipment (PPE). But we also need to talk about the importance of medical professionals taking care of their mental health, as they are experiencing traumatic events on a daily basis.
Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) can occur right after a traumatic event. Flashbacks, and experiencing nightmares of what happened are common. Many people experience a sad mood, and feeling depressed. Having problems remembering parts of what happened is also common. Trouble sleeping, irritability, and difficulty concentrating are also symptoms of Acute Stress Disorder (ASD). The person might feel very tense and on guard. And they might want to avoid anything having to do with the traumatic event. Left untreated these symptoms could worsen and lead to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
The good news is that there is help for ASD and also PTSD. Talking to a counselor can help you work through your emotions and find hope for the future. If you or someone you love needs help please reach out.
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