As we mark the second anniversary of the primary case of COVID-19 identified within the United States, most of the negative points of our shared trauma – political disagreements, hospitalizations of relations, and over 850,000 deaths within the United States – are well-known to us.But irrespective of how dark the storm clouds, some persons are still focused on the little patches of blue within the sky. Experts say this “finding of value” during a difficult pandemic is an indication of resilience – one we will all learn from.Sydney White's father contracted COVID-19 in August, was quickly hospitalized and died days later. Although he was unvaccinated, “he was perfectly healthy, exercised a lot, was very active and overall healthy,” says White, a recent graduate of Clemson University in South Carolina.After her father's funeral, White's grandmother tested positive for COVID-19. She eventually recovered, after which White contracted the disease but had only mild symptoms.Despite all this, the family held together, thanks not least to the support of their church community, which offered the family all the assistance they needed.Even in spite of everything this, White stays resilient. “I think getting COVID was good for me to get through this. [death of my dad]. It sounds weird to say, but it gave me time to process everything.”Posttraumatic personal growth
Over the past two years, studies have been published examining possible positive points of the pandemic. For example, in line with a Pew Research Center survey conducted in August and September 2020, 73% of greater than 9,300 people reported that the pandemic had no less than one unexpected shiny spot.
Meanwhile, researchers at Clemson University surveyed 179 Amazon MTurk employees in June and July 2020. They asked participants about their experiences with COVID-19, including any positive points.
“Some people have actually found something positive to come out of the COVID-19 virus situation,” says lead writer Robin M. Kowalski, PhD, Centennial Professor within the Department of Psychology at Clemson.
Finding purpose or meaning within the COVID-19 crisis has been linked to post-traumatic growth, gratitude and mental health.
Not surprisingly, COVID-19 affected satisfaction with work, family, mental health, funds and other aspects. The results of the study were published online last March in Journal of Health Psychology.
Because profit finding is an adaptive mechanism, some people will still find a way to see positive points whilst winter lingers and the omicron variant becomes more prevalent within the U.S., Kowalski says.
“People who can find meaning even in the worst situations can weather these storms better than those who cannot,” she says.
Positive doctor perspective
Improved management of rapidly progressing hypoxia is certainly one of seven “uplifting effects of the pandemic” identified by George Washington University emergency medicine professors Breanne Jacobs, MD, and Rita Manfredi, MD, in a January 2021 editorial in Academic Emergency Medicine.
The rapid development of telemedicine, respect for frontline providers, and addressing physicians' mental health and disclosure policies are other clinical shiny spots they cite.
“In general, many of the positive aspects have come about primarily because COVID-19 has forced the medical industry to innovate to continue to provide high-quality patient care despite increasingly scarce staff and physical infrastructure,” says Jacobs.
Meanwhile, other doctors have publicly shared their positive COVID-19 findings on social media under the hashtag #silverlinings.
Sunil Ramaswamy, MD, a critical care physician, made the next remark on Twitter: “One of the most beautiful things I've noticed about this #COVID19 crisis is that everyone is saying 'take care' and 'stay healthy'. People really seem to care. It's all about the #silverlinings.”
Gray Moonen, MD, a family medicine resident, sees a positive role for medical students. He tweeted, “It's a privilege to be a resident right now… things are uncertain and it's going to be tough. We can use our platform to advocate for change, become better clinicians and leaders, and have a lasting positive impact on our community #COVID19… looking for the #silver linings”
Insights from isolation
Roisin Guihen, MD, says the COVID-19 experience over the past two years has modified many points of her life, corresponding to how she views her family, herself, and her education. That experience modified recently when she became unwell with COVID-19.
“3 vaccinations and 2 years of avoiding the notorious COVID germs and now the virus has finally caught up with me! Nothing makes you appreciate your general health more than a positive PCR test #grateful #COVID19 #hse”
“I myself only contracted COVID this week (day 6 today),” Guihen wrote in an email on January 15. “I have been in self-isolation all week and have become fully accustomed to my own company for the first time in many years.”
Guihen is grateful for the time she's spent alone recently – a rarity for her before COVID-19 – and says it “reminded me of who I am outside of the hospital and what I enjoy most.”
The pandemic had previously turned her medical studies the wrong way up. “My penultimate year as a medical student in Ireland fell in the middle of the first wave of COVID. The level of uncertainty, stress and disorganization that this year brought with it cannot be described in writing.”
“I'm grateful that I'm here, that my family is here, and that the majority of COVID patients in the hospital now no longer need oxygen,” says Guihen. “I'm grateful that we got through this and learned so much along the way.”
Positive news from the infectious disease doctor
Jeanne Marrazzo, MD, MPH, director of the Division of Infectious Diseases on the University of Alabama at Birmingham, is incredibly optimistic concerning the FDA's emergency approval of the oral antiviral COVID-19 drug Paxlovid.
Widespread availability of the pill could “solve a large part of our personnel problems because we could reduce the number of hospital stays and prevent serious illnesses,” she says.
According to Marrazzo, studies show that the pill reduces the severity of the disease and the variety of hospital admissions by about 90%. The availability of medicine corresponding to Paxlovid “will be very helpful.”
Fewer social obligations
Ordinary persons are also sharing the positive points of the pandemic on Twitter with the hashtags #COVID19 and #silverlinings.
In one exchange, for instance, a self-proclaimed introvert wrote that the pandemic had turn out to be an ideal excuse to avoid large gatherings:
Another Twitter user learned concerning the advantages of vaccines from relatives who were alive before life-saving drugs became widely available.
Appreciate togetherness
One commonly cited good thing about the pandemic was that folks were capable of spend more time with family, the Pew survey shows. For example, 33% of Americans said they were capable of spend more time with spouses, children and other relations. Others said they were capable of stay in contact with more distant family members through video calls.
People shared similar stories on social media. Michelle Aldridge wrote that the pandemic gave her more time to play games along with her family:
“Bingo with @Neil_Zee. The silver lining of the pandemic is quality family time. #bingo #yyc #COVID19 #SocialDistanacing #silverlinings”
On Twitter, “Gilzow” shared the next positive news:
“I'm allowed to annoy my children for at least an extra hour a day. Yesterday I sang songs with terribly wrong lyrics loudly and in unison.”
Rely on the support of others
Another shiny spot, in line with White, the Clemson graduate who lost her father, is that so many persons are facing the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic at the identical time. “One of the positives is that others have gone through this, not just me. Other families have lost fathers to COVID, too.”
“Try to find a group of people you can lean on – through your church, your activities – to help you get through what's going on,” she said. “Together, we can lift each other up.”
Even though White continues to mourn the death of her father, she stays steadfast.
“My father was my biggest supporter. He would have wanted me to get through this.”