The Pandemic has been with us for (officially) one and a half years now. Globally, it may be near it's second year. What we thought would be a won struggle by this time has given our medical frontlines a false sense of hope because the virus has mutated to spread so much faster, and the vaccines are woefully slow in being distributed and implemented. But that has not been the main frustration. I'll get back to that in a while. For now, what we all thought was a light at the end of the tunnel, suddenly turns out to be a much longer tunnel - no small thanks to the Delta Variant.
Just to give a bit of situationer. Some time May this year, we were seeing the arrival of vaccines - and the medical frontliners, senior citizens (60 year old and above), and the people with co-morbidity situations (the more vulnerable due to certain existing pre-conditions e.g. asthma, high blood pressure - in other words, unhealthy people. But even this was not easily done... there simply was not enough vaccines available. Initial manner of registering to get a vaccine were also unclear.
Things started to get better:
However, at least people were starting to be vaccinated, and there was now hope that those vaccinated will not fear the strong possibility of death due to infection by the pandemic. It was hoped that by August of this year, the economy would open up - in fact such was already starting to happen. After all, people were now able to control COVID's spread with the exercise of proper safety protocols.
Restaurants were allowed to open - and even I, and my family were once again enjoying dining out (and not al fresco style either). In return we noticed that restaurants were generous in their servings... a way of saying 'thank you for your trust and patronage'
Delta changes everything:
Unfortunately, a new variant dashed all these hopes. It did not just spread much faster (more contagious), but it also targeted children (who were somehow spared from the varus these past months) and teens. Suddenly, the vulnerability range ballooned. Not only that... even fully vaccinated people were still able to catch said virus... and though many felt it at a less severe case - others still died after contacting it. It seems that our medical practitioners have yet to find fail safe procedures in curing COVID infections.
It may not be an exaggeration to say, everyone has been affected by a COVID death in the family from a global perspective. A year and a half later - we may have learned how to tackle the problem... but we can't say the battle in the hospitals is a won deal. It won't be so while there are deaths still happening.
Where we are now:
Yes, it sounds bleak - and in many cases, it really is. Hospitals are complaining of over-capacity of patients coming in, other medical practitioners are over-worked, underpaid, not given hazard contingencies, and are quitting a system that seems to take them for granted. But why so? For that answer, we look at the other side of the pandemic's problem - at least, here in the Philippines.
As the country went on a hard lockdown - belatedly realizing the seriousness of the pandemic, the President, who was balking at suggestions to close borders to other countries - specially China... more worried about how the move would insult said countries, finally realized what was happening and decided to do the most drastic action - Lockdown.
People were not allowed to leave their homes - only one person would be allowed to go out and get necessities (food, medicine and other needed items), quarantine passes were issued out for this. Those allowed to go out had to wear face masks and face shields - and even since the virus was still a mystery for many - others, myself included, even wore gloves. We also started using disinfectants, and hand washing alcohol.
Adapting to change:
The problem with this strategy? Yes... you control the people's movement, but no one was contact tracing to determine who was infected vs. those who were not. Not only that - the spread may have slowed down - but the longer we wait... the longer people were not working, or going to school.
Offices and classes were forced to reroute their businesses and lessons online. Suddenly, Zoom or other similar apps were necessities - not nice to haves. However, those working in manufacturing could not reroute their production line online... and many of these people were experiencing a 'no work, no pay' practice.
Society's vulnerable:
These were the people that could not afford a long lockdown. These were the people that would go hungry if they wouldn't work... and unfortunately, these were, more often that not, the people who lived in a highly population dense area - where there was hardly any room for privacy - and should anyone catch COVID, they would surely infect others in the household.
Much as Government wanted to keep things in lockdown to control the virus, doing such would make a large part of the population lose their jobs. People were beginning to ignore these government mandates because they had to work.
To compound the problem, even in lockdown, there seemed to be a poor contact-tracing protocol - it's like the medical people were always in catch-up mode. By the time they probably located a contact... this person how might be a carrier, might have passed the virus on to others already.
Simply put, the lockdown was not a solution - just a delaying tactic as it waited for the vaccines to arrive. Meanwhile, an earlier chance to get the vaccines was wasted because of indecisiveness by the head of the government's medical department. The government was forced? to purchase vaccines from China, citing that the western world had already cornered vaccine supply. Many Local government units through their mayors, and private institutions also wanted to purchase their own vaccines - mostly out of frustration, and to ensure supplies.
Unfortunately, these purchases - though approved, were most likely given least priority - and it was only August of this year (almost a 6 month wait) before the start of such arrivals. Meanwhile, hospitals were filling up, and death was felt by many families who helplessly witnessed loved ones pass away due to a lack of medicine, lack of facilities, lack of vaccines.
Simply put... government was swamped - they seemed helpless,; dare I say it, inutile... people felt angry and frustrated with what seemed to be an endless cavalry of problems, and with death looming around hospitals, and many not able to even say a proper goodbye to their departed COVID dead (the cadavers are ordered to be cremated), the feeling of loss was not properly assuaged. Loss was also felt by many in the form of closed businesses. Putting these all together, it's easy to see how many do not picture life in a positive vein.
Depression sets in:
This leads me to my topic. How do many people find release in this kind of environment? There are many ways, if you think about it. But admittedly, some will feel old and passe after a year of doing the same. In normal times, people in grief may go out with friends... family; to places where they could feel happy... properly grieve even. But if you're just stuck at home? Alone, lonely and not able to visit - or be visited by friends and family... depression may set in, even if you don't know it yet.
News channels don't say it is a problem, but you will notice a constant display of phone numbers that are being displayed - saying that anyone who needs to talk to someone can call these numbers. If you were following the news early on in this pandemic - you would have been inundated with countless 'bad news'. After all, other countries were equally challenged with the pandemic.
A global problem:
One gems seemed to be Israel, but it is more the exception to the rule. Lessons learned from the many deaths of Italy (that disregarded social distancing for their usual embrace and kiss greetings) and Spain, that got the virus with a population that had so many elderly who had no vaccines at all. The videos by exhausted doctors, weeping out of frustration - telling their tales... tales seemingly unheard by others - more so political leaders who didn't care, or held a cavalier attitude that that wouldn't happen to them... until it did. All these just added to the negative vibe one would encounter.
Try to find refuge in Social Media? You could do that... but at times, reality intrudes one's safe space. It innocently stems from a friend's post - asking for prayers for a family member - now battling COVID in the hospital... a few week later, you realize they are now mourning the relative's loss. So TV isn't the answer, and social media reminds you - at times, how danger still lurks. What to do?
Well here's the thing... you can always talk so someone - as I mentioned, even strangers on a counseling hotline. A friend is fine, but if they, too are suffering, even if misery loves company - it's still misery. We don't need more misery. You want someone to listen - maybe even understand what you're going through... and hopefully talk to you with some semblance of sense and empathy.
Someone you could talk to whenever you need to... it need not be someone who is the same person all the time - it may be a plus factor for others - but for some, just the need to have someone else to listen. Here's another thing... asking for help is not something to be ashamed about. 'It's okay to not be okay' has become a popular statement these days.
And why not? In a world where many are isolated physically, where meeting face to face, and experiencing the warm and friendly touches, embraces even of friends and family can't happen, having someone to listen while you talk can be a big thing for someone's psyche. One feels less alone, less lonely... less sad.
Problem is, are there enough counselors? I mean these people - just like doctors, or even priests hearing confessions - are just that... still people. They get tired too. Some even get sick, too. So I now ask the ane question that we need to ask. "Can i be a counselor too?'
Practitioners of Counselling go through a lot of learnings... work through lessons on how to listen, how to make suggestions, read tells and other body language, learn how to talk in a calming, non=threatening manner. How not to give bad advice. A lot... a lot of them people skills, and a lot more dealing with medical science, psychology, maybe even psychiatry. So unless you have the knack for having to learn all those... it will be difficult to learn being a counsellor.
Stepping up:
This doesn't mean you can't listen. You can't try comforting. You can't ask your friend to think things through - though you have to realize that thinking is not something they want to do. Or you can't ask questions to understand them more. So long as you do a passive listening manner - not automatically agree their their possible cognitive dissonance, You should be fine. After all, they must need someone to listen to them - for them to rant, to release... even if it's done in a virtual meeting. Consider that.
If anyone needs to destress, suggest they stop watching the news first - maybe focus instead on learning new things - maybe a hobby they wanted to try - albeit maybe a long delayed one. Binge-watching some shows may be good too - but preferably less stressful ones - so scratch the Walking Dead, or other similar downers. It might be even good to watch hilarious shows - yes, even the supposed shallow ones. But even better would be inspiring shows. One that emphasizes hope. No, I'm not emphasizing, Star Wars Episode IV either... but if it helps, why not?
A good book or series of books can be great too. Other possibilities? Painting can be cathartic... suggest that - and just remind each other that Picasso wasn't a success overnight. So one shouldn't be too hard on the work they do (even if it's far from their imagines=d outcome), just learn more... paint more. Same thing with drawing, or writing. Try some yoga... listen to music... the choices can be many. I mean if you try to think about how you yourself are surviving this pandemic, you'll get ideas.
Don't think you're not good enough to help and listen. Don't sell your importance and yourself short. In times like these - every little act of kindness helps. Remember that.
Mind you... I'm not a psychologist, nor a psychiatrist, nor a counselor. Call me, instead, a concerned human being. I do hope what I shared will make you think.
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