Alat antigen: the number of deaths from new coronary pneumonia in the United States exceeds 1 million.

Alat antigen: the number of deaths from new coronary pneumonia in the United States exceeds 1 million

Qatar Al Jazeera website May 17 article, original title: The number of deaths from new coronary pneumonia in the United States exceeds 1 million, how do they respond? In the spring of 2020, the new crown pneumonia epidemic forced the Fontana Hospital outside Los Angeles. As the patients continued to pour in, emergency room nurse Liz Marlow saw a look of fear in the eyes of her normally calm colleagues, who had to choose which critically ill patients to rescue first. "Seeing patients dying every day is devastating to everyone," Marlowe said.

"My biggest fear is insanity"

Data released by Johns Hopkins University on Tuesday showed that the number of deaths from new coronary pneumonia in the United States exceeded 1 million. An estimated 8.5 million Americans have lost family members to the pandemic. Many people working in the healthcare industry have had to deal with a torrent of unexpected deaths, while society as a whole grapples with social isolation, financial distress and the loss of a loved one.

Marlowe is one of countless people who have been traumatized by the pandemic. In the early days of the outbreak, she developed symptoms of Covid-19, including fever, chest pains, headaches, insomnia and brain fog. Although the Covid-19 test came back negative, her mental symptoms continued to worsen and she spent a week in a mental hospital.

After being discharged from the hospital, she experienced a memory fault, and some painful past events often came to mind. "My biggest fear is insanity. It worries me because I can't control that." Marlow didn't want to get out of bed, shower or eat. Feeling like a burden to her family, she began to have suicidal thoughts. She sometimes asks herself, "What's the point of my life? They might be better off without me."72% of U.S. adults know someone with COVID-19

Marlowe is not alone. It is undeniable that the collective stress, grief and trauma brought on by the pandemic have had a major impact on people's mental health. The American Psychological Association says the need for treatment for anxiety and depression has increased by 82% and 70%, respectively, since the pandemic began. Nadien Burke Harris, the former director of the California Department of Health, said the outbreak may be "the greatest collective trauma our generation has ever experienced."

Deborah Kayson, a behavioral scientist at Stanford University in the United States, said that the mental illness caused by the epidemic is diverse. Stress comes from the passing of a loved one, witnessing a large number of deaths, being separated from friends and family, worrying about your health or financial situation, etc. People working in the healthcare industry are the most affected. A survey last year found that more than two-thirds of nurses in California experience anxiety and mental breakdowns. According to the Pew Research Center, 72 percent of U.S. adults know someone who has been hospitalized or died from COVID-19.

You are not alone

At the same time, some people took the time to reconnect with their loved ones and find the most important things in life, and they were better able to come out of the impact of the pandemic on a spiritual level.

Experts offer some basic tips for rebuilding energy and improving coping skills: spend time with a loved one, get enough sleep, eat nutritious food, exercise, meditate. UC Irvine psychology professor Alison Holman said exercise is an excellent way to relieve trauma and stress, while "swiping the screen" (swiping all kinds of depressing news) can further improve mental health. deterioration. She recommends that people get limited news from a few trusted sources and spend up to 20 minutes a day browsing the news.

There are good times and bad days for Marlowe, who is trying to cope with medication, physical therapy and socializing. She sticks to her schedule to rest, meditate, and volunteer at a local church. She said: "This epidemic has undoubtedly disrupted people's daily behavior and thinking. The whole world is basically locked down. For some people, it is like the end of the world. But the reality is, you just Live here, be here right now. You're not alone."