Clinical psychologist Jenny Taitz offers some steps you can take while in lockdown to “Reduce Your Risk of PTSD After Lockdown.“ The tips sound familiar to those who've navigated the trauma of cancer.
“You can create positive habits and reduce response patterns that predict PTSD.” The proactive steps require skill and practice, but are within reach for most everyone.
Express confidence: Psychiatrist Dr. Denise Sloan, director of the National Center for PTSD , tells patients that trusting they will recover increases their chance of doing so.
Recall past successes: List and think about when you’ve overcome challenges.
Strategize ways to feel better: Do things you’d normally do when feeling optimistic.
Practice gratitude, a proven way to increase well-being and resilience.
Connect with others: Pay attention to the social interchange when texting/emailing/talking with family members, friends, colleagues, neighbors, and even the delivery people.
Avoid overthinking and ruminating: The dangers are well documented. Dr. James Pennebaker has for decades trumpeted the benefits of expressive writing that enables you to reflect on the issue and then let it go.
Face your fears: This is easier said than done, and it may require the guidance and support of others.
Interestingly, the NY Times subtitled the article, “Feeling hopeless or lonely? Here are some tips to help.” Yet the article doesn’t mention hope! In the pursuit of Healthy Survivorship, I believe that finding and focusing on healing hope, too, may help—namely hope that helps you do the right things to get through…and hope that helps you wait to do certain activities until the threat to you is over.
Paula Alert-Phillips
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