The war in Ukraine to be a strong stress stimulus, even stronger than the pandemic

Over the past two years, our emotions and psychological comfort have been put to a great test. First, the threat to life and health caused by the pandemic, the long-lasting lockdown, and the change in our social habits, now the fear for the safety of the country and ourselves in connection with the armed conflict in Ukraine, as well as the commitment to helping refugees and Ukrainians who are fighting on the spot with the Russian aggressor. Many people complain of chronic stress, neurotic disorders, and persistent fear of certain situations. More and more of them are looking for the professional help from specialists.

Experts admit that the outbreak of the pandemic was a huge emotional challenge for many people. Suddenly, we found ourselves in a completely new situation that increased fear, stress, anxiety, uncertainty, and many other negative experiences. Many months of isolation, prolonged sense of danger, and lack of direct contact with family and relatives have had an impact on the mental health of many of us, including children and adolescents. It is already said today that the effect of the coronavirus pandemic will result in another pandemic – various types of mental disorders.

"The pandemic created conditions unknown to us. First of all, there was isolation, fears for the future, a whole series of new phenomena, but also things that terrified us as a society. We had schemes for it all. We still collect the effects of the anxiety states caused in this way, and there will be even more of them because unfortunately, it is blooming," Monika Sacewicz, coach, trainer, and mentor, assessed.

Strong emotions related to the epidemiological situation have not yet faded away, and yet another stress has come – this time related to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The war so close is frightening and creates panic. Many people still cannot believe it, they feel lost, and they are afraid that the armed conflict will turn into a third world war and will also affect Poland.

(Newseria)