The Tragedy of the Coronavirus Pandemic
One of the big stories in the news this week that highlights the tragedy of the Coronavirus pandemic is the suicide of Dr. Lorna Breen, an emergency room doctor on the front line of the fight against the pandemic in New York City. Dr. Breen was the director of emergency medicine at the hospital at which she worked and from the outside was a beacon of strength who had no history of mental illness and showed no apparent indicators that she was struggling to that extent. She was reported by family and friends to have been an extremely talented doctor and, even during her own period of illness, was checking on the well-being of colleagues.
What Went Wrong?
Dr. Breen contracted the virus and was sent home to recover. She tried to return to work prematurely after a few days at which point her family took her out of state to recover, which according to a close friend “broke her.” But why? What could have pushed this seemingly vibrant woman to the point of taking her life when it seemed she had so much to offer? Her sister believes the virus altered her brain but sadly, the answers to those questions may never be found. We can’t trace the path that led to Dr. Breen to a point of apparent hopelessness, or others like her, but maybe we can use the hints they left behind to try and help someone else avoid the tragedy of the pandemic to this degree.
Know the Signs
Suicide is a complex, multilayered beast of an issue that I would not dare attempt to touch as a non-trained observer. I want to talk about the human aspect of these situations and explore the possibility of reaching someone who is feeling the stress of the current situation (or any other) and its far reach. I’ve talked a great deal recently about mindset (see previous posts https://www.reallifetrueyou.com/staypositiveincrisis; https://www.reallifetrueyou.com/navigating the CoronaCrisis) and the importance of being tuned in to one’s feelings and emotions.
The Breaking Point
In Dr. Breen’s case, and others like her, at what point did they start to feel like they weren’t ok. It’s SO important to pay attention to those hints as early as possible. To how YOUR body reacts under stress so you know when you are triggered. We all are our own ground zero for recognizing when things get to be too much to handle. The individual stress response is as varied as the number of people you could ask in any setting; ask ten people, you may get ten different responses. That’s why it’s so important for us to be aware of our own triggers. As many have said, it’s ok to not be ok. The problem comes in when we don’t first recognize it, then admit it to ourselves first, and then to others. Or SOMEONE.
When is Too Late Too Late?
Experts say that the final straw that leads to the final act is a complete sense of hopelessness. Suicide becomes “the answer” because a person feels that there is no other choice or there is no hope that things will get better. But when did that thought begin? When did the “light” switch off to complete darkness – or was there a gradual dimming? I think I’m a pretty strong woman but I admittedly have never been to a point of feeling hopeless, as tough as I thought situations were FOR ME. Pain tolerance is individual and none of us really knows our breaking point until we actually reach it. So why test it? Particularly in tough circumstances, don’t allow negative thoughts to persist in your mind. SAY SOMETHING. Talk to a friend or someone you trust. Sometimes just verbalizing helps AND others might hear your in words that you’re not ok and possibly may need additional support. Don’t be proud, or embarrassed or try to deal with extra weight on your own. Let someone else share your burden. You don’t have anything to prove and your strength as a person isn’t diminished because you need help. We all do at some point or another.
In it for the Long Haul
It’s almost unbelievable to fathom that the WHOLE WORLD has been brought to its knees due to this pandemic situation but it is our current reality and, from the look of things, it will be for some time. People are feeling the stress of being locked up in small quarters, multiple family members have been taken away in some cases and many are being stretched by the additional responsibilities they now have as a result of the lack of outside help or resources. It’s not a game. The ongoing tragedy of the pandemic is that the impacts of the situation will be felt for a long time and we must anticipate the trauma that will result from it. RESILIENCE is the word of the day but not everyone is versed in it. We all need to pull together because we’re IN this together. We must be tuned in to our own feelings and emotions to avoid creeping too close to the point of no return. Losing your life to hopelessness doesn’t have to be the tragedy of the pandemic for you. Please seek help if you need it. I’m here and so are many others. I’ve included a short list of resources below.
Resources:
SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline (1-800-985-5990) or he National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK). Both are available 24/7, 365 days a year.
AllenCOMM (a corporate training and learning company) in partnership with The Columbia University Department of Psychiatry
https://www.allencomm.com/portfolio/covid-19-tips-for-facing-the-lockdown/
American Psychological Association (for psychological/behavioral information)
Red Cross:
Health and Human Services:
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