Pandemic Personality Assessment: Losing track of time, location,...You?

       Feeling out of sorts, a bit dazed, confused, out of place, lost track of time, just not yourself lately? If so, join the crowd! Let's face it, who hasn't experienced one or more of these at some time or another, probably more so lately, as a result of circumstances associated with this pandemic? That is, one or more dimensions of being disoriented.

Orientation X 3: Time, Place, Person, in no particular (dis)order. A focus of any mental health professional, these three areas of awareness (or lack thereof) are assessed as part of any mental status exam. Here, today, you'll get a chance to perform a self-examination. 

"I'm losing it!" A common statement of exasperation we've all made at some time or another, it often has important implications in the context of direct conversation in my office or overnight voice mails/emails.  This, routinely experienced throughout the four decades of professional practice, let alone since March, 2020. Hardly a week goes by that someone doesn't express such sentiment in a session or message: "I'm convinced I'm losing my mind...I've completely lost it!" Earlier in my career, I might blithely respond, "Oh, come on, we'll go find it; it's got to be somewhere" (as if it has a locater like a cell phone). Not so helpful. More recently, I have shifted in using such moments to demonstrate a powerful phenomenon we can all relate to, in a way people have been able to use more effectively. That is, in such moments, while not literally losing our minds, something just as disruptive is happening. Which is we are allowing our minds to be overtaken by some powerful emotions, by our feelings; if we are going to allow such feelings to make our critical decisions, to dictate our behavior, beware (an elaboration on which will be found in my pending book, "Striving to Thrive..." if I ever take a break from this doggone blog!).

"Not themselves lately" A high frequency comment in my office on behalf of someone else they have become concerned about. When shared as part of an initial assessment, it probably has a negative connotation, that an undesired departure from his/her normal behavior pattern or personality was a factor in prompting a call to my office. Whereas made a few months later, it may signal a note of encouragement, a more favorable comparison with that from earlier in treatment. Regardless, who amongst us haven't had moments where you just haven't felt like yourself lately? Or, at least when wearing a mask, you were not as readily recognized, perhaps even when you glanced at yourself in the mirror ("For now we see in a mirror dimly, but..." - 1 Corinthians 13:12).

"It's gotten the best of me!" Another high frequency statement, almost always made in a moment of negative self-assessment, usually referring to how a set of circumstances evolved into a critical mass of emotions, which in turn overcame your better judgement (see above). So, if "It" has gotten the best of you, what's left?! On the other hand, have you actually been pleasantly surprised lately by some hidden gems of your personality that have been called on in these turbulent times -- perhaps perseverance and/or resilience? (much more on this later, in book form)

"It's Ground Hogs Day all over..." It's hard enough to know what day it is, let alone what time it is, eh? This, given the repetitive nature and monotony we have experienced lately. A topic of several posts already and another dimension in which we have all experienced some degree of disorientation, expressed several weeks into the pandemic, let alone several months now. Found in such statements as "It's Ground Hogs Day..." or "Rinse repeat, rinse...". What's your favorite such phrase?

Feeling Out of Place? Or, more likely, feeling trapped, claustrophobic from "Stay In Place" orders? Whether formally restricted or self-selecting to isolate temporarily, almost all of us have not been moving about as much, certainly not to places far and wide since about March. Found once again in numerous previous posts are the still ample opportunities to be bodies and minds in motion, instrumental to our well-being, to our Orientation. The opportunities are limited more by our imaginations and willingness than our ongoing pandemic circumstances. Time to get moving!

Diagnosis/Prognosis: Having reflected on the three dimensions of orientation, what's your self assessment; how you doin'? My professional take (free of charge): "You're a bit disoriented but you haven't 'lost it'...yet!" Of course, you can always seek a second opinion...