Each June, during PTSD Awareness Month, we recognize that trauma does not simply fade with time. For many people, recovery is an ongoing process of learning to feel safe again, rebuilding trust, and finding ways to move forward without being controlled by the past.

This year, public attention around the recent hantavirus cases has renewed conversations about infectious disease and uncertainty. ¹While the risk to the general public remains low, headlines about emerging health threats can stir intense emotional reactions,especially for those who lived through traumatic experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.²

For frontline healthcare workers, first responders, and others who endured the relentless stress of COVID-19, these news stories can reopen wounds that never fully healed.

At River’s Bend, we want people to know that these reactions are understandable, and recovery is possible with the right support.

How Current Events Can Reactivate Trauma

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) develops after exposure to traumatic events involving serious threat, injury, or death. Symptoms can include intrusive memories, nightmares, hypervigilance, emotional numbness, avoidance, and changes in mood and concentration.³

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, PTSD can occur after a single traumatic event or prolonged exposure to repeated stress. Healthcare professionals who worked through the pandemic often faced both: witnessing death, fearing infection, coping with staffing shortages, and making emotionally exhausting decisions day after day.

When new health scares dominate the news cycle, they can trigger:

• Racing thoughts and catastrophic thinking
• Difficulty sleeping
• Increased irritability or emotional numbness
• Physical symptoms such as a rapid heartbeat or muscle tension
• Urges to withdraw or avoid reminders of past experiences

PTSD symptoms may intensify when individuals encounter reminders that resemble the original trauma.

The Hidden Impact on Frontline Workers

Throughout COVID-19, physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, emergency personnel, and behavioral health clinicians were repeatedly exposed to loss and moral distress. Multiple researchers have documented elevated rates of PTSD, depression, anxiety, and burnout among healthcare workers.⁴

Many professionals continued functioning at a high level despite carrying unresolved trauma. Years later, a breaking news alert, a patient with respiratory symptoms, or even the smell of disinfectant may evoke memories of those experiences. 

These reactions are not signs of weakness. They are evidence that the nervous system is still working to protect against perceived danger.

What PTSD Recovery Looks Like

Recovery does not mean erasing difficult memories. It means reducing the power those memories have over your daily life.

Evidence-based treatments shown to be effective include:

• Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) – LINK TO EMDR blog
• Medication management when clinically appropriate

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD emphasizes that most people with PTSD can experience significant improvement with professional treatment.

At River’s Bend, our Mental Health Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) provides structured, evidence-based care for individuals coping with PTSD, anxiety, depression, and co-occurring conditions. IOP offers a higher level of support than traditional weekly therapy while allowing clients to continue living at home and maintaining responsibilities.

Practical Strategies for Managing Triggers

When current events reactivate trauma, these coping strategies can help:

Limit News Exposure

Stay informed through reliable sources, but avoid constant monitoring of headlines and social media updates.

Reconnect With the Present

Grounding exercises, deep breathing, and mindfulness can help remind your brain and body that you are safe now.

Maintain Daily Structure

Consistent sleep, movement, meals, and routines support emotional regulation.

Talk About What You’re Experiencing

Sharing reactions with a therapist or trusted support person can reduce isolation and help process emotions.

Seek Professional Help Early

If symptoms interfere with sleep, relationships, work, or overall functioning, specialized treatment can make a substantial difference.

These approaches align with our June focus on practical coping strategies and the role of structured treatment in long-term recovery.

Healing Is Not Linear

You will often hear our therapists say “trauma recovery rarely follows a straight path.” It is true! Periods of progress may be interrupted by setbacks, especially when external events stir old fears.

That does not mean treatment is failing.

Recovery often involves learning to recognize triggers sooner, respond more effectively, and rebuild confidence over time. Small improvements—sleeping better, feeling less on edge, or engaging more fully with loved ones—can be meaningful signs of healing.

You Do Not Have to Navigate PTSD Alone

Whether you are a nurse haunted by memories of the pandemic, a first responder struggling with recurring anxiety, or someone whose trauma is resurfacing amid unsettling headlines, support is available.

River’s Bend has provided compassionate, evidence-based behavioral healthcare since 1995. Our outpatient programs are designed to help individuals move from surviving to living more fully.

If this topic resonates with you, explore our resource page or contact our care team for help.

PTSD is treatable. Recovery is real. And even when the world feels uncertain, healing remains possible.

References 

1. Andes virus outbreak on a cruise ship: Current situation. (2026, May 19). Hantavirus. https://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/situation-summary/index.html  ↩︎
2. Kaubisch, L. T., Reck, C., Von Tettenborn, A., & Woll, C. F. J. (2022). The COVID-19 pandemic as a traumatic event and the associated psychological impact on families – A systematic review. Journal of Affective Disorders, 319, 27–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.08.109  ↩︎
3. Ressler, K. J., Berretta, S., Bolshakov, V. Y., Rosso, I. M., Meloni, E. G., Rauch, S. L., & Carlezon, W. A. (2022). Post-traumatic stress disorder: clinical and translational neuroscience from cells to circuits. Nature Reviews Neurology, 18(5), 273–288. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41582-022-00635-8  ↩︎
4. Lavell, A. H. A., Sikkens, J. J., Buis, D. T., Smulders, Y. M., Vinkers, C. H., Bomers, M. K., & Tijdink, J. K. (2025). Mental health of health care workers during and after the COVID-19 pandemic – A longitudinal cohort study. PLOS Mental Health., 2(6), e0000333. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmen.0000333  ↩︎

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