COVID-19, acceptance, confinement and de-escalation

These are days of confinement in which we all habitually think about when it will end, what we will do once we can start going out “normally”. Governments speak of a "gradual, staggered opening".

In VillaRamadas we have done a study of the phases we have suffered during confinement and how we should prepare for "the return to normality". We are talking about 6 phases, a first phase of denial, a second phase of negotiation, a third phase of acceptance, a fourth phase of responsibility, a fifth phase of love and a final phase of gratitude.

• Related article: "Mental health: definition and characteristics according to psychology"

The psychological phases of confinement

In this article we are going to talk about each of the psychological phases of confinement, knowing that we are currently in the fourth phase.

First phase: denial

Since December 2019 we have heard about a virus that is affecting China, more specifically Wuhan, located in the central area of ​​this country.

From Europe we hardly listen to what is happening without giving it the utmost importance that it is a problem

that "it is not up to us". This problem seems to be getting out of control in China. Europe continues out of danger as it seems that the virus does not spread outside of the Chinese country.

January 31, 2020, the virus arrives in Italy (Lombardy) and Spain (specifically on the Island of La Gomera). At the moment no action is taken, it is still considered to be a virus like the flu, there are no reasons to be alarmed or to react to such a situation.

During this time we live in a state of denial, we believe that what has happened to others cannot happen to us. Our ME only thinks that; we are different, we are stronger, this is just a case, it will be temporary, etc.

Second phase: negotiation

We see and hear so much on the news that we begin to think: is it serious? Is it so dangerous? But of course, this We only considered it when we began to hear the first cases in Europe. It has arrived in Italy, perhaps it will arrive in Spain, or not. We are far away, it will not reach my province, my city...

Despite not yet accepting reality, we are only heard talking about the same subject. And always with the same comments. But... if only about 3,000 have died in China, in Europe, where we are better in terms of health and life expectancy, nothing will happen. More people die from the flu. Bah! That's all a lie, I'm passing by, I'm going on a trip to watch football in Italy. I'm sure nothing will happen to me.

Third phase: acceptance

On February 21, 2020, Italy closes 11 municipalities. On March 8, Italy declares a state of alarm throughout the country. On March 14, 2020, Spain accepts the problem and just as Italy declares the state of alarm. And so on with all the countries of the European Union and then the world.

The virus is a reality, we believe in the problem. We have a problem and we have to act. We accept it and we react.

We began to take measures to be able to fight with what we have, there is talk everywhere about the virus and how we should act to avoid contagion. In addition, various measures are taken; to be able to solve the problem of the health crisis, to help people called at risk/vulnerable to promote hygiene and disinfection measures, etc.

Fourth phase: responsibility

They ask us for responsibility, and we give it. We stay at home, we only go out to buy food. When we go out we comply with the rules established by the government; social distancing, gloves, masks, personal hygiene.

The government, thanks to our good work and the fact that everything seems to be improving, allows us to go out with our children. We prepare to make them also understand how important it is to comply with the rules. From such a young age they understand that you have to be responsible.

Sunday April 26 arrives and we go out with our children and we see that, in most cities, towns, etc., the rules are met. We are responsible, they have trusted us and we have shown that we are capable. We start to get a feeling beyond responsibility, we are heading to our fifth phase of this process.

Fifth phase: love

We do not want to be infected and we do not want to infect either, We no longer only think about ourselves or our relatives, we think as a societyWe want the good for everyone. We think about what families who have lost their loved ones have suffered. We think of the professionals who have lost their lives to be able to help the citizens of our country.

We feel love, but a love that is not only based on expecting something in return from another close person. This love extends to people we've never seen nor heard of them.

We begin to want to go to work, we like our work, we love our work. We begin to think that we are productive and capable of doing everything that we set our minds to and that we are asked to do. Life is a challenge and we are achieving it. We love each other, we love each other as people, increases our self-esteem. We smile like never before.

Sixth phase: gratitude

We are not past the fifth phase yet, but we know that in that return to "normality" we will be grateful. We will appreciate being alive, hugging our family, our friends, going to work and being able to see our colleagues again.

Now seeing the sea, the mountains, taking a walk, are acts that we carried out but that we did not appreciate in the same way that we will. Our life has changed, we have gone from a state where we did everything we wanted, without restrictions, without confinement, to a state where we have learned to see life with enthusiasm, joy, gratitude.

We have changed and with it we have grown as people, as a family, as a society. Now we are the privileged ones who can count on everything around us and we will know how to appreciate it in a way that we never knew we could before. Now we will look with gratitude at everything around us. We have reached a state of fulfillment.