{"id":3978,"date":"2023-06-27T21:08:15","date_gmt":"2023-06-28T02:08:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/healthsecurity\/transmission\/?p=3978"},"modified":"2023-06-27T21:29:28","modified_gmt":"2023-06-28T02:29:28","slug":"if-you-suffer-from-urgent-normal-syndrome-ask-for-help","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/healthsecurity\/transmission\/2023\/06\/27\/if-you-suffer-from-urgent-normal-syndrome-ask-for-help\/","title":{"rendered":"If You Suffer from Urgent Normal Syndrome, Ask for Help"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Ko-Fi<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A woman finds a mask in her coat pocket, leftover from the 2021 mandate. It triggers such a violent emotional reaction in her mind that she throws the mask across the room and starts sobbing, then tweets about the experience. This woman might be suffering from urgent normal syndrome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s that, you ask?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Covid continues to spread worldwide, many people are finding it difficult to accept reality. They refuse to examine facts, even when they\u2019re presented in forms that are easy to comprehend. Instead, they insist on reclaiming an obsolete version of \u201cnormal\u201d that involves large indoor gatherings without any precautions. This could be you or someone you love. Do they need help?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The short answer is yes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you have Urgent Normal Syndrome?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the last few years, some of us adapted to pandemic life. We learned about the very real risks posed by Covid infections that appear \u201cmild\u201d at first but later lead to disability and chronic illness, even severe life-ending events like heart attacks and strokes. We educated ourselves and each other on appropriate protections like N95 masks and clean air. We learned how to live happy, fulfilling lives without risking our health or putting others at risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite a wealth of information on these topics, many people have been engaging in what psychologists and medical researchers would consider reckless behavior that puts their health at risk and endangers their loved ones. They seem to romanticize the lives they led before the pandemic, almost relishing long commutes and countless hours spent in office buildings they once abhorred. They demonstrate an obsession with returning to \u201cnormal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For lack of a better term, some of us have started referring to these behaviors as urgent normal syndrome (UNS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Urgent normal syndrome is defined by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n