The psychological effects of the pandemic

The psychological impacts of the spread of the coronavirus can be expressed in several ways.

We live in a consumerist society and in the age of over-information. This year 2020 is proving to be one of the most difficult in not only a health sense, but also in an economic, social, familial, psychological and emotional sense.

The coronavirus pandemic that began to appear in the media (and later in our lives) at the beginning of the year has left a very important months of confinement, and therefore a psychological imprint on the population. From the media the news continues.

But... what is the truth in this? How has this pandemic really affected us and how does it continue to affect us in relation to our well-being and personal growth? And above all, what are we psychologists really encountering in the consulting room?

Psychological impact of the coronavirus pandemic on society.

You may have read many news stories that talk about increases in cases of anxiety, stress and even depression, which may cause an even more severe pandemic of mood disorders.

However, this is still difficult to predict todayHowever, this is still difficult to predict, as no conclusive research has been done. The only thing we psychologists know is what is happening now with the people we accompany and, above all, how to solve it.

Why is it so urgent that we solve these difficulties as soon as possible? Because there is also a considerable a considerable increase in the number of people who are taking anti-depressants and anxiolytics.Although it is true that in some occasions and under a correct diagnosis people may need drugs, it is not the real or definitive solution to treat the vast majority of these problems.

For more than 10 years, as a psychologist and coach, I have been accompanying people in their personal (or professional) change processes and the data are clear: when there is a pharmacological consumption (not strictly necessary in many cases) recovery is slower and the possibility of learning is limited.

Remember: we cannot change the world or people (nor, of course, the current pandemic situation) but we can learn to understand and manage our own personal and professional lives. we can learn to understand and manage our emotions and to cope with this situation as well as possible (and even come out of it stronger).

• You may be interested in, "What is fear for?"

4 implications our personal, psychological and emotional life.

Social psychology has investigated for how long and what psychological effects a situation of social impact that modifies our lifestyle causes. It is currently not possible to measure the long-term impact that this pandemic may have on our lives, but we know, for example, that the impact of the Spanish civil war and its subsequent forty years of dictatorship have an effect of up to seven generations (submissive behavior, fear of authority, some domestic violence, insecurity, etc.).

The effects of the pandemic are a mystery for now, but we do know one thing: that the pandemic continues (from the media, our social life, uncertainty, etc.) and that it has already wreaked clear havoc on people. Since March, there has been an increase in consultation (in my case, totally online consultation, since I accompany people from anywhere in the world). cases of people who were about to take medication or were already taking it..

In these cases recovery exists, but it is more gradual and more time is needed. For this reason it is important to tackle the problem as soon as possible and transform it into a solution (thanks to your own learning and personal change).

In this video I tell you in detail what are these 4 impacts and how you can deal with the difficulty and above all that it is a learning that will serve you throughout your life.

From empoderamientohumano.com I have been working as a psychologist and coach for more than 10 years with people who want to achieve changes in their lives thanks to their own personal change. Currently, the changes that people are most in need of is precisely to learn how to manage all this anxiety, fear, insecurity, anxiety, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear manage all this anxiety, fear, insecurity and discouragement that has infected us with the pandemic..

Emotions are not in themselves negative, but a necessary information that helps us to react, to know ourselves, to adapt and to grow. Ignoring them means that they conquer us and we end up living according to that fear and anxiety, even though the pandemic is over. If you learn to understand and manage them, you will have them on your side to live with confidence, peace, acceptance, as well as the necessary prudence (living "without fear" is not only impossible but dysfunctional. Fear is necessary but not conquering your life is even more so).

The exposure to fear that we experience from the media (not only from television but from practically all our electronic devices) has caused us a constant feeling of alertness, which generates anguish and anxiety. The fear, the sense of alarm, is functional only for a very brief and practical time.. When it conquers our day to day life, it can lead us in a hurry to an anxious and depressive situation.

The solution cannot come from outside, as we cannot control what happens around us. The only solution you can manage is your own personal change. Psychologists and coaches, in this respect, can only decide to facilitate help rather than make it more difficult. Above all, have lots of courage, enthusiasm and commitment. Everything will change if the change is in you.