“What is needed, rather than running away or controlling or suppressing or any other resistance, is understanding fear; that means, watch it, learn about it, come directly into contact with it. We are to learn about fear, not how to escape from it.”
Jiddu Krishnamurti, philosopher, speaker, and writer
COVID-19 came like a thief in the night and it wreaked havoc across the globe. Every nation felt its destructive power while emergency boundaries were set in place to stop the force of this enemy.
What made, and still makes this battle so different is that “COVID-19” is a silent and invisible enemy. It is everywhere and yet nowhere. It not only threatened the existence of mankind, but it destroyed lives and economies. It attacked the infrastructure of every nation on earth and sadly, in many cases, brought out the worst in mankind. Some exploited their own countrymen through corruption and left many on the battlefield to die as they stole money and provisions that were meant for the vulnerable of society.
When a war is lurking one can strategically prepare for the coming onslaught, but when the attack comes as a surprise from an invisible source human-kind finds it almost impossible to deal with this kind of battle.
COVID-19 has brought trauma into the workplace, marketplace, households and into the very existence of the individual. No two persons respond the same when a crisis is experienced. The very experience of stress happens during such a crisis, not before and not after, even though the after-effects can still be felt long after the crisis is over.
COVID-19 is causing fear; fear of others, fear of the workplace, fear of using transport, and fear of simply living. Fear may cause anxiety, expressing abnormal levels of anger, forgetfulness, and feelings of hopelessness – questioning if life is still worth the “struggle”. Decision-making is avoided or poor decisions are made. Fatalistic and reckless behavior leads to thinking that “I may die so let me just “enjoy” life. The list of symptoms is endless but what is important is to be aware of behavior that is out of character.
Symptoms are not just psychological but physiological and may present itself as headaches, sleeplessness, body pains, eating disorders, nausea and general feeling of stress. Many revert to the abuse of alcohol, excessive smoking, binge eating, and abuse.
COVID-19 has caused trauma on all levels and it is expressing itself through stress, anxiety, grief.
- How will we deal with these symptoms?
- In retrospect what have we learned from COVID-19 and what are the questions we should be asking?
- If we knew COVID-19 was coming, what would we have done to prepare ourselves better?
- How will we move forward from this point onwards?
For answers to these questions please contact WAVES OF GRACE.
“Thinking will not overcome fear but action will.
Clement Stone, American businessman and philanthropist
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