If you or someone you know is having a hard time dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, know that you are not alone. Our world has turned upside down, so it’s natural to feel uneasy and unmoored. However, anxiety and depression are one thing; a deep-rooted trauma is another. Read on to discover if you or a loved one may be suffering from coronavirus pandemic post-traumatic stress disorder, a.k.a. PTSD.

1. What is PTSD?

“Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, learning about a traumatic event that has happened to a family member or close friend, and experiencing repeated exposure to details of traumatic events,” says Summer R. Thompson, DNP, PMHNP-BC, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with Community Psychiatry. “In our current situation as a nation, we are closely following the news related to COVID-19 and/or hearing about friends and family members contracting this illness. As a result, the potential for developing PTSD is highly elevated.”