A sudden illness such as COVID-19 can be a traumatic experience which can upset and distress us. Traumatic events can arouse powerful and disturbing feelings in us which usually settle in time, without any professional help.
You have been through a traumatic experience such as COVID-19 and may want to understand more about how you are feeling
This section describes the kind of feelings that people have after a trauma, what to expect as time goes on, and mentions some ways of coping and coming to terms with what has happened.
A traumatic event occurs when a person is in a situation where there is a risk of harm or danger to themselves or other people. Situations like this are usually frightening or cause a lot of stress. In such situations, people feel helpless.
Examples of traumatic events include:
Immediately after a traumatic event, it is common for people to feel shocked, or numb, or unable to accept what has happened or cut off from what is going on around you. When in denial, you can't accept that it has happened, so you behave as though it hasn't. Other people may think that you are being strong or that you don't care about what has happened. Over several hours or days, the feelings of shock and denial gradually fade, and other thoughts and feelings take their place.
People react differently and take different amounts of time to come to terms with what has happened. Even so, you may be surprised by the strength of your feelings.
It is normal to experience a mix of feelings.
Strong feelings affect your physical health. In the weeks after a major traumatic illness you may find that you:
Family and friends may be able to see you through this difficult time. Many people find that the feelings that they experience after a traumatic event gradually reduce after about a month. However, you may need to see a professional if your feelings are too much for you, or go on for too long (typically beyond 4-5 weeks after the traumatic event). You should probably ask your GP for help if:
Following a traumatic event, some people experience a particular condition called post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Symptoms that are most commonly experienced by people with PTSD include:
If you are experiencing problems that might be PTSD, you should seek professional help from your GP. Your GP can refer you to the Psychological Therapy Service in the Local Primary Mental Health Service where you will be able to access the most appropriate talking treatment assessed to help alleviate the trauma that you may be experiencing. Your GP may also prescribe you medication to help you cope.
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