Stating that psychological resilience is as important as physical treatment in the treatment of Covid positive patients, experts draw attention to the positive effect of psychological resilience on the immune system. Stating that the diagnosis of Covid-19 also affects the patient's relatives very intensely, experts make important recommendations for both patients and their relatives.
Specialist Clinical Psychologist Özgenur Taşkın from Üsküdar University NPISTANBUL Hospital made evaluations on being a patient relative during the Covid process and psychological resilience methods.
Covid-19 diagnosis also affects patient relatives intensely
Reminding that COVID-19 infection is an epidemic that affects the whole world in a short time due to its rapid spread and severe clinical course, Özgenur Taşkın pointed out that the psychological effects of the disease are as intense as the physiological effects during this epidemic process. Özgenur Taşkın said, "Being diagnosed with Covid-19 leaves the person as well as their relatives in very intense effects. The person and family members are primarily faced with uncertainty, it is a process that causes intense stress, anxiety, physical, mental and economic anxiety."
Uncertainty can trigger negative emotions
Stating that the biggest source of stress in human psychology has been known as uncertainty for years, Özgenur Taşkın noted that there is an intense uncertainty for both the patient and the patient's relatives during the pandemic process.
"Family support is of great importance in the treatment process, but due to the risk of transmission in infectious diseases, patient relatives may also have difficulty in providing the necessary support," said Özgenur Taşkın, "In this case, the patient may feel 'alone, excluded, guilty'. Together with these negative feelings, uncertainty can trigger negative emotions in the person. Triggered negative emotions may bring 'fear of death'. Due to the pandemic, the necessity for the patient's relatives not to be present in the hospital, and the situation of not accepting companions or visitors to clinics and intensive care units make this process different. When the feeling of loneliness is included in the uncertainty process, it may cause psychological problems in the person."
Pay attention to the symptoms of acute stress disorder!
Stating that insomnia, nightmares, constant images and disaster scenarios related to the virus, fear that the disease will infect their relatives, anger, guilt, hopelessness and loneliness complaints, which are seen as an extension of the fear of death experienced in the epidemic situation, are the harbingers of acute stress disorder, Özgenur Taşkın emphasized that the severity of these symptoms will increase as the quarantine period extends.
Pandemic agenda increases stress
Stating that factors such as the fact that the agenda is intensely busy with the pandemic increase personal and mass stress and cause panic, Özgenur Taşkın said, "Many factors such as personality traits, socio-economic conditions, having a chronic mental or physical illness before, the presence of social support, the ability to cope with the crisis and adapt to the new situation, and the psychological resilience of people affect the reactive response to the process. At the same time, following the news about the pandemic in the media can cause anxiety as well as raising awareness."
Things to do for psychological resilience
Özgenur Taşkın said that the good mental health of a patient diagnosed with COVID-19 will save the person from the burden of physical illnesses and at the same time support their recovery: "Doctors often state that a strong immune system is a major factor in overcoming the disease, and there is another factor here that 'Psychological Resilience' directly affects the immune system."
Özgenur Taşkın listed the things to be done to increase psychological resilience as follows:
Recognize your strengths: During the treatment process, patients and their relatives will have a lot of time to think and be aware. It may even be good to write more than noticing.
Analyze your strengths: Think about the storms you have been through so far. What has kept you going? Ask the question "How did I cope with it?" and find the answer. Don't just find it, develop it. It's time to spend the time and energy you would have spent on negative thoughts on development.
Tell your relatives about "Psychological Resilience": They may be as worn out as you are during the illness, helping your family will make you feel strong and your family will feel happy seeing your strength.
Reduce the time you spend alone: Socializing is a protective factor. There may be physical loneliness during the pandemic, but be sure to keep in touch by phone.
Have routines that support psychological resilience: The goal may not be to do these items once, but to make them part of your life. Keep people, books, songs and movies that are good for you close by.
Get support if you are struggling to cope
Clinical Psychologist Özgenur Taşkın recommended getting support from a mental health specialist if it is difficult to cope despite all these suggestions and said, "Patients and patient relatives can determine this as a road map during the Covid process. In this process, we think that psychological support should not be ignored by both patients who have Covid and their relatives. Through psychological interventions, the patient and his/her family can be prevented from being negatively affected by the possible crisis and trauma, and it can be ensured that they maintain a healthy lifestyle and improve their quality of life."
