Ever since human beings first went to war, the people who fight in those wars have sustained not only physical wounds but also psychological wounds, which may spare the body but scar the mind. And for almost as long as human beings have been waging war, societies have struggled with two fundamental questions about these psychological wounds. First, how do we identify and define these unseen wounds, wounds that lead to the type of consequences that defy simple physiologic explanation? Second, given that some people clearly return from war with psychological issues that impair their ability to function, how do we justly compensate those who experience these psychological wounds (an issue that becomes particularly salient as the number of people affected increases)?
In light of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, we explore the role of stress, fear, and the impact of positive and negative emotions on health and disease. We then introduce strategies to help mitigate stress within the health care team, and provide a rationale for their efficacy. Additionally, we identify strategies to optimize patient care and explain their heightened importance in today’s environment.
Ever since human beings first went to war, the people who fight in those wars have sustained not only physical wounds but also psychological wounds, which may spare the body but scar the mind. And for almost as long as human beings have been waging war, societies have struggled with two fundamental questions about these psychological wounds. First, how do we identify and define these unseen wounds, wounds that lead to the type of consequences that defy simple physiologic explanation? Second, given that some people clearly return from war with psychological issues that impair their ability to function, how do we justly compensate those who experience these psychological wounds (an issue that becomes particularly salient as the number of people affected increases)?