Читать книгу Counseling Practice During Phases of a Pandemic Virus - Mark A. Stebnicki - Страница 61

At Level 4, the person functions in the severe range of mental, behavioral, and psychosocial health. The individual has very little recognition of and respect for the seriousness, lethality, and consequences of a pandemic virus. They are noncompliant with virus hygiene protocols such as wearing masks, washing hands, and keeping a safe social distance. They also do not endorse the use of vaccines. Individuals at Level 4 experience and exhibit severe fear and anxiety in response to a pandemic disaster. However, this is directed solely toward their changing environment, which they do not understand, recognize, or feel they have control over. Individuals at Level 4 may or may not be triggered by specific events (e.g., media reporting of positive COVID-19 cases, COVID-related illnesses and deaths, school and workplace closures). They have a severe lack of awareness of a pandemic disaster and how it could potentially adversely impact their present life. Clinically significant psychological/emotional symptoms and conditions are in the severe range, and the person has chronic and persistent traits that create the exacerbation and remission of a mental health crisis in their life. The individual does not exhibit stress-hardy behaviors. The ability to bounce back from adversity is severely impaired because of inadequate coping and resiliency skills. Individuals at Level 4 do not endorse public health principles, practices, guidelines, and government mandates associated with a pandemic disaster. They view virus hygiene and adherence to public health guidelines as nonessential to the protection of themselves and others. Thus, persons at Level 4 take severe virus hygiene risks in comparison to persons at Level 3. Individuals at Level 4 struggle enormously with balance, adaptation, and adjustment in relation to their changing pandemic environment. They typically do not have the capacity to respond to the grief, loss, and extraordinary stressful and/or traumatic events associated with a pandemic virus because they are too internally focused on their severely unhealthy thoughts, feelings, and cognitions. Persons at Level 4 consistently struggle with balancing the reality of a pandemic disaster with other life responsibilities. They cannot move forward because of life circumstances related to their severe medical, physical, and mental health conditions. Persons at Level 4 also have academic, job, career, relational, financial, and other hardships that may be beyond their control. Their overall mental and physical well-being is severely compromised by their inability to cope with adversity. Persons at Level 4 find very little meaning in their existence and find it difficult to gain relief during phases of a pandemic disaster. Some individuals at Level 4 exhibit suicidal ideation. Adjustment and adaptation to the overall effects of a pandemic virus are poor because they do not recognize a path forward to achieve overall health and well-being. The mental, behavioral, psychosocial, and medical/physical health of the individual at Level 4 is demonstrated by the following.