Back to not-so-normal: Psychologists eye pandemic stress as U.S. reopens

[Nevilledog]

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Thor Benson
@thor_benson
Here's my second piece for NBC News.

I wrote about how chronic stress caused by the pandemic could be contributing to people behaving more aggressively

Back to not-so-normal: Psychologists eye pandemic stress as U.S. reopens
Marie-Christine Nizzi, a postdoctoral researcher at Dartmouth College and the Brain Institute at Chapman University, studies trauma and resilience, which
nbcnews.com
11:58 AM · Jun 22, 2021

https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/back-not-normal-psychologists-eye-pandemic-stress-us-reopens-rcna1204

Marie-Christine Nizzi, a postdoctoral researcher at Dartmouth College and the Brain Institute at Chapman University, studies trauma and resilience, which includes how the brain handles stress — and, sometimes, doesn't handle it.

It's the latter that is particularly timely. With many Americans inching toward normalcy, psychologists like her are keeping a close eye on how the mental weight of the pandemic is showing up in society — even if the worst is months behind most people.

Nizzi, who has been working on a survey of Americans' mental health since April of last year, said the pandemic has caused many Americans to develop chronic stress, which could lead to them behaving more aggressively in their daily lives.

"People can't have an emergency stress response that stays the same forever, so they convert from an acute stress response to a chronic stress response," she said. "As the stress becomes chronic, their ability to cope with all of the changes is starting to be overwhelmed."

*snip*

[Faux pas]

1. So

now every one of the raging assholes can use stress as a defense? I guess anything goes now

[Nevilledog]

2. I think the long history of them being dicks will negate the defense.

[Faux pas]

4. From your keyboard

to the universe's eye

[Leith]

3. I see this almost every day

The people I have been in regular contact with were handling it fairly well until a couple months ago. Now there is behavior that goes from fidgety, through snapping without provocation, and into full blown hour long arguments.

I've been trying to stay out of it but I have my own symptoms as well. I've been prone to depression and withdrawal. I watched the Star Trek Deep Space 9 episode The Visitor this morning and cried through the whole thing. It never affected me like that before - I've always found it maudlin and schmaltzy.

Be happy and stay safe, everyone.

[Nay]

5. The smallest thing becomes stressful -- it's certainly happening to me. My coffeemaker

broke today and that has depressed me. Can I go and get another coffeemaker? Sure. But the Amazon reviews are awful for nearly every coffeemaker in existence. I simply can't choose and I felt like crying.

[Leith]

6. I understand

We all respond to stress in our own way. And that response can't be better without one's morning coffee.

Even when we are alone, we're all in this together.

[Treefrog]

7. Bodum French Press. You can't go wrong.

Krups is good too.

[Nay]

8. I have been considering a French press, but don't know anything about them.

What do you like about them? I drink two 14-oz mugs of coffee each morning -- what size press would you recommend? I realize "cups" are not 8-oz cups.

[Treefrog]

9. I use a small one. I drink my coffee very strong and black, so I like the fact the press makes it

as strong as you like.

Very easy to clean. Very easy to make the coffee. You put however many spoonfuls of coffee you want in the bottom. Add boiling water, (stir if you want), then put the press in and push down. Then pour. Makes delicious coffee. They’re quite inexpensive too.