We as human beings are social creatures whose most basic needs include the need for being socially connected. If you or someone you know is in recovery from a substance use disorder, you know that being able to connect to other individuals in recovery is an important component to maintaining sobriety. During this time of uncertainty with the spread of COVID-19, self-isolation and boredom that comes with social distancing can trigger a relapse on drugs or alcohol.
Over the last several days, our lives have changed because of the COVID-19. This virus has been a source of fear and anxiety for a lot of people. Fear about a disease can be overwhelming and lead to strong and unhealthy emotions. Learning to cope with these feelings can reduce stress and make you stronger and more helpful to others. We do not have all of the answers in this situation, but hopefully, we can help you put this in perspective.
In the midst of this sweeping pandemic, humankind is being faced with an abrupt new reality…our lives are going to change and we are not exactly sure how, yet. As people are asked to stay in their homes to limit human contact and exposure to the COVID-19 virus, many of us are faced with an unsettling concern and uncertainty.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can occur in people of any age. It can occur after you have seen or experienced a traumatic event that involved the threat of injury or death.
It can follow:
- A natural disaster (tornado, earthquake, tsunami, etc.)
- Assault, Domestic Violence, rape
- War
- Terrorism
- Accidents
Symptoms include:
Non-suicidal self-injury is the act of deliberately harming your own body, such as through cutting on yourself or through burning yourself. It is typically not meant as a suicide attempt. Rather, self-injury is an unhealthy way to cope with emotional pain, intense anger and frustration.