Doctor Dharmesh Choksy said, “Working in the COVID unit feels nothing less than a ‘War Zone’ and that’s not all we are dealing with on daily basis”. Research conducted during the COVID pandemic shows that many physicians feel they started with their anxiety issues because of a shortage of personal protective equipment. The lack of protection played an important role in making healthcare workers feel traumatic about their work.
As Dr Dharmesh said, “I sensed how overwhelming powerlessness and helplessness could be while treating my patients when my main concern shifted to ‘which patient should I focus on because they are more likely to live? instead of giving all my energy to every patient. It feels like the pandemic has made us inhuman and statistical in a way”. Powerlessness somehow acts as a baseline for trauma amidst healthcare individuals.
Healthcare workers are on the front lines of the crisis and all of them still have to deal with the personal stressor of being away from friends and family, homeschooling the kids after long hour shifts and uncertainty of when this pandemic will end. These complexities strengthen the feelings of helplessness and feeling demoralized which in turn leads to increased levels of anxiety, depression, and sometimes lasting post-traumatic stress disorder among physicians and other healthcare workers.
“I have started experiencing burnouts and fatigue when I am at work. I realise that the entire hugeness of the situation is what’s making me feel depressed. Somedays I don’t even feel like waking up or going to the hospital, but I just have to act normal and pretend that I am absolutely fine!” said Dharmesh. These feelings further give rise to guilt about their own thoughts. “I feel ashamed that when I am most wanted, is the time when I feel like giving up. I shouldn’t feel like it, don’t you think.”
Many healthcare workers have this concept of ‘I don’t want to look weak’. The healthcare workers feel that ‘not giving in’ and ‘being portrayed that they are alright’ is more important to recognizing that they are about to crash.
But it is important to go against this belief and just rely on close workplace relationships for support. The daily exercise and breathing break is good to alleviate stress and anxiety brought on by the pandemic but along with that, knowing that you are terrific and are doing an amazing job is good motivation too. Talking to people about your problems as a healthcare professional will help you relieve your burden and it is of utmost significance at this hour.
As a healthcare professional, understand that you deserve the very best care, and while you are providing and giving so much to other people, don’t forget that you need to put on your own safety mask first too!
(Pic credit: freepik)