International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc.
International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc.
By: Silvia Calvo Navas
Two years after the entire world was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Costa Rica was also affected by this crisis regardless of a person’s age, gender, or social or economic condition. By 2020 the increases in anxiety, depression, stress, domestic conflicts, divorces, showed alarming figures, which have continued to rise in 2021.
The youth segment was one of the most affected in our country, with collateral effects such as aggressive behaviors, family isolation, sleep disorders, suicide attempts, increased addictions, plus exhaustion and fatigue from virtual education. While the endless news of infections and deaths around the world, in communities and in families themselves, bombarded us daily and left us terrified and without hope, pandemic fatigue for young people turned into another virus. They tired of so many restrictions and the effects on mental health and see their future as uncertain and bleak for who knows how many more years.
As never before, the urgency and need to assess the cognitive, emotional and mental resources that people need to live their daily lives in a state of balance and mental health and to provide adequate support to people in crisis became evident. Once again, the human fragility and vulnerability of certain sectors of the population under certain circumstances became evident. Now, although there is suffering in the world, there is also hope. The resilience of mankind is impressive. Tools such as those provided by the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF), through the Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) courses, are needed more than ever and showcased the need to be prepared to respond to the crisis that, generally speaking, arrives without warning and to which no one is immune.
A few days ago, I had the opportunity to accompany a 14-year-old girl and her family. The teen, in a fit of rage, because her mother took away her cell phone for disobeying her instructions to arrive home early, decided to take her own life by taking 30 sleeping pills. The young woman, thinking about what she had just done, went to seek help from her neighbors, who helped her and took her to the community health center where she convulsed for a long time, before being transferred to the hospital. After being hospitalized for two days, she returned home, full of fear and with severe pain in her body. By then she didn’t quite understand what happened to her or why she made that drastic decision. The life of a young person can be very limited and sad in a small house in a small rural town in Costa Rica!
Her mother has not stopped crying and blaming herself for what happened, not understanding the psychological effects of confinement, restrictions and fear on young people. Under this sad and painful scenario, the pastor and I made ourselves available to provide help and support to the family. Listening, crying with them and finally, asking for permission to pray, were the strategies we used. The family will follow the recommendations of the doctors in cases of suicide attempts which means, permanent custodial care (the girl should not stay alone), several appointments with the psychiatrist, and group therapy with peers.
We know that there is healing in the connection, hence the importance of having good and solid support networks: family, friends, professionals, spiritual leaders. There is a great truth in the biblical phrase written in Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10, 12 (NIV): “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” A shared load is a light load.
People need a safe place to share their pain, their struggles, a place where they do not feel judged. Hence the importance of asking yourself, “Who listens to me? With whom can I open my heart without fear of criticism, judgment or ridicule?”
Finding people who you can connect with, who can understand, who can respond in time of need, and who have the commitment and discretion to walk by your side, is like finding water in the desert. This is where the importance comes of continuing to train more and more people with the basic tools of CISM. The gift of time and active listening are undoubtedly some of the greatest lessons learned and applied during the course of a pandemic.
On a personal level, as a way of processing what I have experienced in times of crisis and anxiety, I have put into practice the following steps that I learned in the CISM courses which has promoted personal care and emotional healing.
First, I recognize the facts and causes of my crisis and list them. Putting what I feel into words, graphics or drawings allows me to release what is inside and bring it to the surface.
Second, I recognize the emotions that it creates in me and share them with someone close to me. Emotions must be validated; they provide information on how I am reacting to an incident. Anger, sadness, joy, fear, are universal emotions, we all experience them at some point in our lives.
Third, I stop to analyze and think about the strategy and what tools I have to face the crisis, what my support networks are, and what I am learning from the situation I am experiencing.
Fourth, I analyze my reactions and make a concrete and simple recovery plan. In my case, I decided to exercise regularly, and I have seen the benefits in the quality of my sleep as well as in my physical condition and overall energy.
There are always areas in which to grow. That is why the constant exercise of these self-assessment practices will allow us to take concrete actions that progressively lead us to a more effective and balanced life. Putting what you have learned into practice and seeing the positive results strengthens the inner being and generates more confidence every time we face critical incidents.
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