Healing in Isolation
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 global pandemic, many people have found their normal life rhythms disrupted. Self-quarantine, while necessary, can be extremely draining on our mental health. Ongoing civil unrest only throws fuel on the fire, burning out our abilities to feel normal. Anxiety, depression, and panic are, for many, the result.
This can have a profound impact, not only on our mental health but also on our physical health. In a study published in 2011 about the impacts of psychological stress on wound healing, it was shown that stress can have a “substantial and clinically relevant impact on wound repair.”[i] With this in mind, it becomes important to not only manage our expectations for injury recovery times in a physical therapy setting, but also to manage our mental and emotional health as it relates to our treatment. This applies not only to our practitioners who may find themselves needing to meet the additional needs of their patients’ mental state, but also applies to our patients and staff who, themselves might be struggling with anxiety and depression.
One potentially helpful piece of advice is to “reframe” the issue.[ii] If we take the new normal of self-quarantine and our work from home environments as such an opportunity we can transform our anxieties into a drive to complete those tasks that we otherwise might feel we lack the time for. This can take the form of reorganizing that bedroom shelf that we consistently overlook or taking the time to really master our PT home exercise program to maximize our healing process.
Managing expectations has always been a key component of physical healing, and as we continue to meet the new challenges presented by a world in the grips of a pandemic it is important to remember to play our parts. Healing is seldom an easy task. It takes time, determination, and above all persistence. The mindset that we choose to adopt during these times holds the key to reaching our future goals.
[i] Jean-Philippe Gouin and Janice K. Kiecolt-Glaser. The impact of Psychological Stress on Wound Healing: Methods and Mechanisms. Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America. Volume 31, Issue 1, February 2011, pages 81-93.
[ii] https://adaa.org/learn-from-us/from-the-experts/blog-posts/consumer/covid-19-lockdown-guide-how-manage-anxiety-and