Covid Vadis

A lot has been written to advise others (people in general and health workers in particular) as to how they should approach the presence and effects of COVID. It’s taken me a while to get my head around the whole phenomenon of the COVID 19 Virus and how it has influenced us on a micro and macro level.

On a personal level, the meaning of COVID 19 is linked to who we are and how we interpret the world - each has their own take on the coming and destructive course of the virus. On the level of mental health, we could feel more vulnerable and anxious as the mere presence of the virus brings uncertainty, unpredictability, fear in a nutshell - heightened anxiety, the loss of hope and deeper depression. We may grieve for real and the anticipated losses. For some, it could mean a loss of trust in a God-figure. For others, it could foster a stronger sense of spiritual awareness and commitment. For some, this may be a calling to achieve the superhuman (such as health workers in the frontline) or a sign that, in the bigger scheme of things, they are nothing and have no part to play.

On a macro level, I believe that living through the effects of COVID 19 will change society and our view of it. Not only will society have to process multiple deaths and other losses, such as financial security, loss of status, but it will be confronted with new stresses as previously trusted societal structures disintegrate or vastly restructure and other structures develop that do not necessarily offer us the same financial, occupational, health and other reassurances we had before.

For those who have acted with entitlement, a path of humility may lie ahead. We may have to go from selfishness to selflessness. The presence, effect and change, sudden or gradual, brought about by virus is not dissimilar to many other changes man has had to adapt. We think of the Ice Age, climate change and the extinction of the Dinosaurs, the Roman Conquest, the Inquisition, The Industrial Revolution and Child labour, the wars of the last three hundred years, repeated natural disasters (tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanic outbursts), the German and Russian labour camps, destruction of the Berlin Wall, refugees from the influence of religious fanatics, genocides (Hutu vs Tutsi), Belgian Atrocities in the Congo, Afrikaner concentration camps, Apartheid.

Two realities stand out: yes, many died, but many fought repression and adversity in order to survive, live and to thrive.

This we know, that the will to survive and to live is hard-wired into every person. These characteristics are often activated by a crisis, like the one we are facing now.

Psychological studies on resilience, hardiness, emotional strength and the ability to face and overcome adversity show that people who fit this description have shared characteristics. Within the above framework, Dr Aaron Antonovsky formulated the concept of “Sense of Coherence”. This concept encouraged the consideration of the following three issues:

1. 1. Do I have an accurate understanding of the Virus and its impact?
2. 2. My support system:
3. a. What is my perspective on, namely, my internal resources (personality traits, talents and beliefs), informal resources (spouse/partner, close friends and family) and formal resources (Professional helpers, doctors, mental health professionals)?
   
4. b. Given that social support mostly reduces stress, how effectively do I utilize these structures
   

1. 3. What emotional meaning do I attach to this experience - is it a burden or a challenge? Is there an emotional reason that makes it worthwhile for me to confront the changed realities brought into my life by the presence of the virus and the subsequent lock-down? A reason that trumps the fear I may feel about the potential losses, unpredictability, safety of my loved ones.

The answers to the above questions are very personal. There is no generic, one-size-fits-all answer and coping method that can be readily applied. The answer needs to be contemplated deeply so that I can make the changes I need to make to bolster my strength and adjust to my new situation as best I can.

Added to the above mental attitude, there is the issue of coping. For the more anxious, there is dealing with the unknown and trying to build scenarios of possible future problems that may occur and need to be resolved. Apparently, the overall commander of the D-Day invasion said that “A battle plan lasts a minute, after that it is improvisation”. On that terrible day of 6 June 1944, it was those who kept moving and adapting who had the best chance of survival. In terms of coping, it is more helpful to have a present-orientated, problem-solving approach. This means:

1. 1. What is happening right now - what is the problem?
2. 2. Can I, given the resources I have at my disposal, fully or partially resolve it? If I can’t resolve it, how do I live with the distress it generates?
   
3. 3. Review and adjust my intervention so I can get things the best they can be, even if they are not perfect.

My best wishes to all who are actively involved in fighting this virus, but also to you negotiating your specific and unique personal battlefield. I trust we will all find the strength, will and motivation to endure - allowing ourselves to be transformed into the best version of ourselves.

Photo by visuals on Unsplash