Page 42 - Total War on PTSD

experience post-trauma symptoms or go on to develop PTSD. But for those do experience post- trauma symptoms, know that it is normal to feel and display the symptoms of PTSD in the first month that follows”. This is called acute stress disorder and can often go away after a month.
However, medical research shows that long term over the last 40 years forced quarantine can have long-lasting effects that can lead to PTSD symptoms and severe depression. Studies in Toronto analyzing the psychological consequences of previous SARS outbreaks found that “29 percent of those quarantined showed PTSD symptoms while a further 31 percent had symptoms of depression. It’s not only the uncertainty and isolation” (Abdou & Leila, 1970). Individuals lost their daily routines, work or study environments and stability. In the previous study, many individuals were forced to stay in hostile family environments during quarantine that also damaged their needed stability and mental health.
The effects of COVID-19 are still being studied around the world, therefore we don’t know what the consequences of this pandemic will be long term. However, looking at previous outbreaks will give us the tools to revise how we deal with these mental health effects. Luckily, we have technology and virtual counseling available to us now, whereas 40 years ago this was impossible.
Because the U.S. has still not reached its peak for COVID-19, we must look to China for studies on how the pandemic has changed life as they know it in the short term. A recent Chinese Psychology Society survey found that “42.6% of 18,000 Chinese citizens who are still free of coronavirus have clinically significant levels of anxiety related to the coronavirus epidemic” (Dorfman & Dorfman, 2020). Clinically significant depression was identified in
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