Are you dealing with Post Pandemic Stress Disorder?
Posted on 1st July 2021 at 22:40
As the country re-opens its doors, not everyone is feeling elated. There are still people who are struggling to come to terms with the relaxation of the rules and how that might impact on them and their wellbeing.
What is PPSD – Post Pandemic Stress Disorder? An article in Psychiatric Times in January this year had already started to use the phrase Post Covid Stress Disorder.
By Spring 2021 many professionals and medical practitioners were seeing PPSD in their clinics. On the 6th March 2021, the Director General of the World Health Organization, Tedos Adhanom Ghebreyesus issued a warning, declaring the world must prepare for post pandemic trauma on a scale larger than World War 2. He suggested the mental health toll will last for many years to come.
What are the signs of Post Pandemic Stress Disorder?
Here is a list of some of the symptoms which might be experienced by a patient suffering with Post Pandemic Stress Disorder:
Increased anxiety levels
Trouble sleeping
Mood Swings
Hyper Vigilance
Codependency issues
State of unexplained and irrational fear
Chronic pain
Long Covid (as per the NHS website)
These are not exclusive to PPSD, but it is important that these symptoms are not swept under the carpet, using phrases like “we have all had a tough time in the last 18-months” pull yourself together”, avoids looking at possible bigger issues. Not everyone experiences emotional responses to trauma in the same way. It is important to reach out and talk to someone and let them know how you are feeling.
The symptoms of Long Covid
Severe Fatigue
Shortness of Breath & Chest pain
Heart Palpitations
Dizziness, Pins & Needles
Insomnia
Long Covid symptoms are like most post viral syndromes and can range from mild to debilitating. Part of the challenge patients face is the severity of the symptoms can vary day to day.
For most people, recovery will take a few weeks and the person will return to a normal life, but for some with Long Covid, this journey to recovery can take months, maybe even years.
The NHS website gives a comprehensive list of things to watch out for but unfortunately there is currently no medical treatment for these forms of post viral or chronic fatigue syndrome as it can also be referred to.
Treating Post Pandemic Stress Disorder and Long Covid
The Bodymind Centre takes a holistic approach to health and wellbeing. We look at a person’s body as a whole system, using a range of techniques to tackle the root causes rather than just the symptom the person is presenting.
We use a range of techniques which include:
Naturopathic therapies
Psychological interventions
A range of alternative therapies which will also include therapeutic massage, reflexology, reiki, and acupuncture.
We can already see immense pressures on the current methods of treatments, where we treat the symptoms, but the cause of the illness remains undiagnosed. For example, treating anxiety and depression with anti-depressants only suppresses the acute symptoms. There needs to be a whole-body approach to understanding why the anxiety is presenting itself.
At The Bodymind Centre we support our clients though our assessment and treatment focus on 8 core areas of life:
Biochemical
Physical
Emotional
Psychological
Nutritional
Relational
Spiritual
Lifestyle
There is a new paradigm in the healthcare sector, this shift will revolutionize the way healthcare is delivered. It will eventually move the control from medical practitioners and place it back to the hands of the patients. At The Bodymind Centre, we already work with our clients using this theory and our clients take back control of their own health and wellbeing over time.
Start by booking onto our 20-minute free consultation now
If you would like to find out more about our approach please explore our how we work page.
Alternatively, if you feel ready to take some control back on your life contact us today for your first 20 mins free consultation.
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