COVID-19, acceptance, confinement and de-escalation

These are the psychological phases that characterize society's passage through the COVID-19 crisis.

These are days of confinement in which we all habitually think about when it will be over, what we will do once we can start going out to the streets "normally". The governments talk about a "gradual, staggered opening".

In VillaRamadas we have made a study of the phases we have suffered during the the phases we have suffered during the confinement and how we should prepare ourselves for the "return to normality". for the "return to normality". We talked about 6 phases, a first phase of denial, second phase of negotiation, third phase of acceptance, fourth phase of responsibility, fifth phase of love and a last one of gratitude.

The psychological phases of confinement

In this article we will discuss each of the psychological phases of confinement, knowing that we are currently in the fourth phase.

First phase: denial

Since December 2019 we hear about a virus that is affecting China, more specifically Wuhan, located in the central part of this country.

From Europe we hardly hear about what is happening without giving it the utmost importance that it is a problem that "does not concern us". This problem seems to be out of control in China. Europe continues to be out of danger as it seems that the virus does not spread outside China.

January 31, 2020, the virus arrives in Italy (Lombardy) and Spain (specifically on the island of La Gomera). For the moment no action is taken, it is still considered a virus like the flu, there is no reason to be alarmed or to react to such a situation.

During this time we live in a state of denial, we believe that what has happened to others cannot happen to us.. Our SELF only thinks that; we are different, we are stronger, this is just a case, it will be temporary, etc.

Second phase: negotiation

We see and hear so much in the news that we start to think: is it serious, is it so dangerous? But of course, this we only think about it when we start to hear about the first cases in Europe.. It has reached Italy, maybe it will reach Spain, or not. We are far away, it will not reach my province, my city?

In spite of not yet accepting the reality, we only hear us talking about the same subject. And always with the same comments. But... if only 3000 people have died in China, in Europe, where we are better in terms of health care and life expectancy, nothing will happen. More people die of influenza. Bah! That's all a lie, I'll pass, I'm going on a trip to watch soccer in Italy. I'm sure nothing will happen to me.

Third phase: acceptance

On February 21, 2020, Italy closes 11 municipalities. On March 8, Italy declares a state of alarm throughout the country. On March 14, 2020, Spain accepts the problem and, like Italy, declares a state of alarm.. And so on with all the countries of the European Union and then of the world.

The virus is a reality, we believe in the problem. We have a problem and we have to act. We accept it and we react.

We started to take measures to be able to fight with what we have.We are talking everywhere about the virus and how we must act to avoid contagion. In addition, several measures are taken; to be able to solve the problem of the sanitary crisis, to help the so-called at-risk/vulnerable people, to promote hygiene and disinfection measures, etc.

Fourth phase: responsibility

We are asked for responsibility, and we give it. We stay at home, going out only to shop for food. When we go out we comply with the rules established by the government; social distancing, gloves, masks, personal hygiene.

The government, thanks to our good work and the fact that everything seems to be improving, allows us to go out with our children. We prepare ourselves to make them understand how important it is to follow the rules. From such a young age they understand that they have to be responsible.

Sunday, April 26th arrives and we go out with our children and we see that, in most cities, towns, etc., the rules are followed. We are responsible, they have trusted us and we have shown that we are capable. We begin to have a feeling beyond responsibility, we are on our way to our fifth year.As we move into our fifth phase of this process.

Fifth phase: love

We do not want to be infected and we do not want to infect, we no longer think only of ourselves or our family members, we think as a society, we want the good for all.we want the good for all. We think about what the families who have lost their loved ones have suffered. We think of the professionals who have lost their lives in order to help the citizens of our country.

We feel love, but a love that is not only based on expecting something in return from another person close to us. This love extends to people we have never seen or heard of. never seen or heard of.

We begin to look forward to going to work, we like our work, we love our work. We begin to think that we are productive and capable of doing whatever we set our minds to and whatever is set before us. Life is a challenge and we are achieving it. We love ourselves, we love ourselves as people, our self-esteem increases. We smile as we have never smiled before.

Sixth phase: gratitude

We have not yet passed the fifth phase, but we know that in that return to "normality" we will be grateful. We will be grateful to be alive, to embrace our family, our friends, to go to work and to be able to see our colleagues again.

Now seeing the sea, the mountains, going for a walk, are things that we used to do but we did not appreciate them in the same way that we will. Our life has changed, we have gone from a state where we did everything we wanted, without restrictions, without confinement, to a state where we have learned to see life with enthusiasm, joy, gratitude.

We have changed and with it we have grown as people, as a family, as a society. We are now the privileged ones who can count on everything we have around us and we will appreciate it in a way we never knew we could before. We will now look with gratitude at everything around us. We have reached a state of fulfillment.