Mental health experts explain what pre-traumatic stress disorder is and why many may be experiencing it during the pandemic.
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But nothing has tested her cool-as-a-cucumber mentality likeCOVID-19.
David Rubin, PhD is a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Duke University.
He has extensively studied memory and PTSD, with the aid of a National Institute of Mental Health grant.
Besides the emails, Christina says supervisors changed work shifts, which added to the stress.
Alison Block, PhD is a a licensed psychologist and the director of the Health Psychology Center, located in Oceanport, New Jersey. Dr. Block is also the director of the psychosocial curriculum for the Department of Medicine at Monmouth Medical Center, an affiliate of the Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health Care System.
I was getting so stressed out that I was crying in the break room, she says.
And all of this wasbeforeanyone with COVID-19 walked through the doors of her hospital.
The throw in of anticipatory stress Christina experienced isnt limited to front-line workers.
Over the past several months, the bad news cycle is seemingly never-ending.
Police brutality and violence against Black people making headlines day after day.
An increasingly hostile election cycle.
A prediction of a second COVID-19 wave.
Its no wonder more thanone-third of Americansare feeling anxious right now.
And for some people, like Christina, that anxiety might be manifesting into something known as pre-traumatic stress.
Alison Block, PhD is a a licensed psychologist and the director of the Health Psychology Center, located in Oceanport, New Jersey. Dr. Block is also the director of the psychosocial curriculum for the Department of Medicine at Monmouth Medical Center, an affiliate of the Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health Care System.
What is pre-traumatic stress disorder?
The difference is, with pre-traumatic stress disorder, the event hasnt happened yet.
However, she says that this kind of anxiety has very real symptoms for those who experience it.
And it isnt new to the pandemic, either.
Here in Southern California, every year there is a threat of forest fires.
It would be understandable for firefighters to feel anticipatory stress heading into the season, she says.
Climate change is a problem so big and complex that its looming effects can cause some to panic.
They also experienced it again after returning.
But Dr. Rubin says pre-traumatic stress disorder can be triggered outside of a war, too.
He adds that the pandemic can make people especially prone.
That contributes to both general anxiety and anxiety in the form of pre-traumatic stress.
(I mean, just look at what this year has been like.)
Dr. Silver highly advises minimizing how much news youre consuming.
Dr. Block also recommends reaching out to your support system.
Whatever youre experiencing, you do not have to go through it alone, she says.
Dr. Block also recommendsregular exerciseandmeditation, which are both linked to lowering anxiety and stress.
Theres no denying that life right now isnt normalfor anyone.
But debilitating overwhelm shouldnt have to be your default.
Use this time to check in with yourself, and ask for help when you need it.
Its the first step on the path to healing.
*Name has been withheld.
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