By DR. TED WIARD
Golden Willow Retreat
COVID-19 continues to be a major focus for most people in the world and rightfully so, as many people continue to become infected by the virus and sickness and death are still major concerns.
Lately, there has been a decrease in infections, hospitalizations, and infection as the vaccine and conscious behaviors are helping decrease people being infected by the disease.
The world is not out of the woods, but as proactive action and healthy behaviors continue, the world will be able to start to re-open its ways of life and find a new norm of how to step back into the world with more knowledge and less fear.
There has been such a high focus on the COVID-19 that it is easy to forget that other aspects of life need to continue to be observed, and if there are changes in someone’s behavior, there is still the need to say something or report these concerns to appropriate persons.
Yesterday I was talking with a friend who stated he had been quarantined due to a possible interaction with someone who had a positive test for the virus. He reported his entire family was quarantined and they had all felt headaches, drowsiness, dizziness, irritability, and other erratic behaviors by the children, that seemed rather strange and not a typical pattern for the family.
As we spoke, he continued to tell me more and more of the erratic behaviors that were out of the norm for his family. My first reaction and thought process was to just label it as either COVID-19 or the emotional impacts of a family of four being quarantined and all in the same house, tripping over one another.
Luckily, we decided to explore these changes within the family and where they may be coming from aside from a pandemic lens. There were enough characteristics of possible carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms that my friend decided to call the county and get the family house checked out. Sure enough, two carbon monoxide leaks both making the home potentially deathly.
Their home is now safe and the entire family is healthy.
This is a great importance of staying alert with one another in a time that there has been so much isolation that we may have forgotten about watching out for one another, and when seeing something that is not adding up, as radical changes in behavior within the environment or the person, and/or just something that does not seem right.
Noticing and saying something about strange behaviors or something out of the norm can save lives. Suicides are on the rise, addictive behavior, overdoses, anxiety, depression, and additional related relapses are skyrocketing as the pressures of lack of connection have increased due to the pandemic.
Secondary pandemics, due to the present situation, continue to be discovered and it is more important than ever to remember that humans still need one another, and to stay open to noticing yourself and/or others acting differently and taking the time to speak up, connect, or let someone know, can and will help save lives and support those in their conscious or unconscious time of need.
I wish you well, and until the next article, take care.
Golden Willow Retreat is a nonprofit organization focused on emotional healing and recovery from any type of loss. Direct any questions to Dr. Ted Wiard, EdD, LPCC, CGC, Founder of Golden Willow Retreat GWR@newmex.com or call at 575.776.2024. Weekly virtual grief groups, at no charge, are being offered to help support emotional well-being. Information can be accessed through www.goldenwillowretreat.org
