Trauma a deeply distressing or disturbing experience. Emotional shock following a stressful event or physical injury, which may be associated with physical shock and sometimes leads to long term neurosis.
As the days of Safer at Home pass on, I sense an underlying trauma building in all parts of society… our children, workforce, cities, seniors, families, medical, essential workers and the economy… at the same time of talk of ” getting back to life as it was.”
The reality is, there is no going back… we collectively are sharing an emotionally traumatizing experience and essential/front line workers trauma includes physically putting their bodies in harms way with inadequate protection equipment.
The emotional experience of living in an altered state of fear, worry, paranoia, obsession/compulsion, loss, grief and anxiety. The war against the invisible killer creates the constant burden of thinking, will I or my loved ones catch the virus and die.
We have had a steady dose of well intentioned headlines of death toll, infections, hygiene & safer at home admonishments and recently, news that models predict 100k Americans could die by the end of April. Our coping mechanisms are to stay inside, social distance, wash, wash, wash, wear a mask if we must go outside the house! Conversely, essential workers put on a brave face clinging to their faith and fight on.
This experience and the new habits we have developed for our survival will remain in our psyche. Ironically, it takes 21 days for a new behavior become a habit.
So, going back is not an option emotionally! While most are anxious to see family, friends, neighbors, teachers, coworkers, etc. jumping quickly into previous routines won’t be easy. Our bodies and minds are in a hyper state of survival and when we can finally relax, we will be emotionally exhausted. It is akin to the feeling one has after an active vacation–the need for a staycation after the vacation.
As leaders begin planning for the end of social distancing…particularly, in the workforce & schools, take into account EQ given each person now carries a new trauma… take it slow, create opportunities to share and connect. Go SLOW to Go FAST!