Pandemic Disease is an infectious disease that occurs simultaneously all over the world and threatens the lives of a large number of people. Historically, black plague, cholera, influenza, typhoid, swine flu and nowadays Covid 19 are considered among these diseases.
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, which was defined as of January 2020 and first emerged in Wuhan province of China, started to spread from animal to human and affected other countries of the world, requiring each country to take urgent measures for itself.
Within the framework of all the measures taken in our country, one of the most critical ones has been the curfew imposed as of March 21, 2020 for individuals aged 65 and over and those with chronic diseases in order to protect them from the disease. Along with the difficulties brought by the process, it is possible to experience the psychological effects of these bans.
In our country, individuals aged 65 and over constitute 9.1% of our country's population and there are 7 million 551 thousand people. In an aging world, it is our responsibility to protect our increasing elderly population and ensure their well-being. Although 65 years of age and over is referred to as the elderly, this period is considered as a period of chronological, biological, physiological, social and psychological decline or changes, on the other hand, this period is actually a period when knowledge and experience are at the highest level, crystallized knowledge, in other words, wisdom. If knowledge and experience are high, productivity continues and mental flexibility is present, the elderly individual will be able to adapt to changing roles more easily and be accepted.
The presence of a serious threat to the physical integrity or life of the individual, his/her family or relatives and an event that exceeds the individual's ability to cope is expressed as a traumatic life event, and the Covid 19 outbreak is a life-threatening life event with high psychological effects. For this reason, it is necessary to ensure the psychological stability and well-being of the elderly individual.
Why we consider the Covid 19 pandemic as a traumatic life event
- These situations are unpredictable, people are not prepared for what will happen
- Little or no control over what happens and the awareness that anything can happen at any time
- Expectations about life and the world can be shaken, discourses such as "not for me or not here" are no longer valid
- Individuals have a high sense of stigma
Forms in which the frustration of the Covid 19 pandemic manifests itself in society
- Feelings of abandonment, isolation and resentment
- Realization of the limitations of the support available and the reality of the losses
- Increasing burnout and the emergence of health problems
- Alienation from other segments of society
- Loss of motivation
- Financial difficulties and accompanying conflicts, perhaps groupings
- Underestimation of social solidarity and support
Resources thought to be protective in the Covid 19 pandemic:
- Psychological resilience
- Personal history
- Personality
- Previous traumatic experiences
- Support mechanisms/Sources
"Social solidarity" has a positive impacton the Covid 19 pandemic . These are
- Continuous and easily accessible support
- Sharing the traumatic experience
- Exchange of mutual support
- Strengthening social bonds
Towards the end of the Covid 19 pandemic and the end of the "Reconstruction and Recovery Phase"
- Accepting responsibility for putting their lives in order
- Restructuring the environment
- Facing the missing again
- Possible continuation of the mourning process
- The need to adapt to and internalize the new environment and new life
- Personal maturation and realization of the life experience that comes with the traumatic life event is expected.
Since the Covid 19 pandemic is considered a traumatic life event, it is known that psychiatric disorders such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression, somatization and anxiety disorders may occurduring or after the process .
The following positive interventions are recommended to prevent the psychological effects of the Covid 19 pandemic.
"Respond Positively to the Covid 19 Pandemic"
Positive Intervention 1: News hygiene
We are at home, we do not have the opportunity to go out, so we cannot intervene in what is happening. Therefore, the more we watch news about the pandemic, the more we will not relax, on the contrary, our anxiety will increase and our sleep patterns will be disrupted. For this reason, in order to minimize the impact of news that will disturb your psychology on television, newspapers or the internet, it is necessary to use these tools at certain times and to apply the method of staying away from these tools. Reading books or articles that will positively affect your emotions and thoughts will help.
Positive Intervention 2: A breath of glass "Let go of the bad and breathe in the good"
Breathing in and out through the balcony or window of the house at the same time every day with the thought "Let go of the bad and inhale the good". Five or 10 minutes is recommended
Positive Intervention 3: Twenty Steps at Home
Taking at least 50 steps or as many steps as you can in a suitable area in your home, at the same time every day
Positive Intervention 4: "More than 1 meter and less than 2 minutes of contact" is the best slogan for me
Say this slogan to yourself repeatedly at certain times of the day, even for at least 2 minutes on your watch
Positive Intervention 5: Life Review Practice
Think about your past experiences, what you have been through, how your life has come to this day, your childhood, your youth, your family and work life, your relationships... If you are using a smartphone, you can record and listen to this reflection. Or you can write the whole experience down.
Positive Intervention 6: 3 good practices every night
Every evening before you go to sleep try to find something positive about the day and think about how good it was for you, you can write down what you found
Positive Intervention 7: Optimistic Outlook (affirmation)
We may be at home and unable to go anywhere, our needs and relationships may be restricted and we may be dependent on someone for them. As affirmations; I am valuable, so I should live like this for a while, I am protected, I will stay healthy, I will be together with my loved ones after a while, I will do my shopping, I will walk outdoors, etc.
Positive Intervention 8: The Act of Writing
In this process, we can write in a notebook every day about how we spend our time and how we feel. Writing is the best way to reveal our feelings and will help us to relax.
Positive Intervention 9: Thank You Action
Thanking someone for something they have done - for example, for not putting us at risk by not coming to visit us during this period or for meeting our needs, we can do this by phoning, texting, or taking and sending a video.
Positive Intervention 10: Practicing Gratitude and Thankfulness
This practice, which has the purpose of appreciating what we have, being happy with what we have and carrying a permanent state of well-being, consists of writing a letter of gratitude to the person or people we think are important in our lives. We should keep writing until we feel that it comes from the heart. We can also read it out loud; if we do that, the feeling will be even stronger. And then the person we care about, the person who feels cared for, will give us a grateful feedback
Positive Intervention 11: Best Me and Best Aspects
We can make a list of what we are best at, what we do best. But how can we adapt these qualities that we are best at to the situation, how can we use this power? Let's think about it...
Positive Intervention 12: Reminiscence
Let's paste your old photos on the wall and tell our memories about each one of them
Positive Intervention 13: "Come for a Tea on Screen"
If we are using a smartphone, we can chat with our loved ones by setting certain time periods and putting them in a certain routine, brewing tea and drinking it at the same time. It is important not to do this while working, but to set aside a special time.
Stay in good health,
Lecturer İdil Arasan Doğan