As I reflect on my former patient, I hope that she is doing okay and is able to handle all of this without a relapse to suicidal thoughts (though the partial program she was enrolled in closed because of realistic fears about contamination and exposure to germs).Īs New York Times columnist Frank Bruni pointed out, the COVID-19 pandemic is harder for us as a society than other disasters because we are robbed of our ability to gather together for human comfort. Instead of learning how to decrease obsession with cleanliness and contamination, individuals with OCD are hearing that they should be more concerned. Public commentators have pointed out that it is challenging for individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and other obsessive fears to manage information coming out of public health departments. We are warned that if we are not careful with our interactions, we could all die. People are frightened, and no one knows whether other people they encounter on the street or in a store have been infected. Going to work is only possible for those of us whose occupations involve essential activities-including health care and some service industries. We have been told that it is highly risky to even venture out of the house.
Right now, it really does feel like the zombie apocalypse. I have been thinking about this woman and her fears, though, as our worlds have shut down in the past couple of weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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