Dr. Aditi Nerurkar

You know, back in maybe 2018, you may have said, oh, I'm looking forward to getting married or having a child. I'm looking forward to graduation or getting this new job, maybe buying a car, taking this trip or... setting up a garden. I mean, there's so many things that people used to look forward to. And now it's like, we just draw a blank.

I felt that certainly that sense of horizonlessness you probably have as well, because it is how our brains are working right now. It's really a telltale sign of this post COVID era and this new mindset that we're in. How common of an experience is this? You know, we don't have enough data in terms of studies to look at what is horizonlessness. How do you define it? And we do need more research.

I felt that certainly that sense of horizonlessness you probably have as well, because it is how our brains are working right now. It's really a telltale sign of this post COVID era and this new mindset that we're in. How common of an experience is this? You know, we don't have enough data in terms of studies to look at what is horizonlessness. How do you define it? And we do need more research.

I felt that certainly that sense of horizonlessness you probably have as well, because it is how our brains are working right now. It's really a telltale sign of this post COVID era and this new mindset that we're in. How common of an experience is this? You know, we don't have enough data in terms of studies to look at what is horizonlessness. How do you define it? And we do need more research.

But the reason that many of us are feeling the sense of this blank sensation when we think about or anticipate the future is because your brain is built like a dam. So under normal circumstances, let's say you're going through an acute stress.

But the reason that many of us are feeling the sense of this blank sensation when we think about or anticipate the future is because your brain is built like a dam. So under normal circumstances, let's say you're going through an acute stress.

But the reason that many of us are feeling the sense of this blank sensation when we think about or anticipate the future is because your brain is built like a dam. So under normal circumstances, let's say you're going through an acute stress.

You shore up your internal reserves and you keep it together at all costs. So let's think back to 2020 when we were all in lockdown and we were told, okay, you're going to be in lockdown for three weeks, four weeks tops, right? You remember that messaging. And so you kept it together.

You shore up your internal reserves and you keep it together at all costs. So let's think back to 2020 when we were all in lockdown and we were told, okay, you're going to be in lockdown for three weeks, four weeks tops, right? You remember that messaging. And so you kept it together.

You shore up your internal reserves and you keep it together at all costs. So let's think back to 2020 when we were all in lockdown and we were told, okay, you're going to be in lockdown for three weeks, four weeks tops, right? You remember that messaging. And so you kept it together.

Yeah, the wall is up. So I've noticed this many times when I was seeing patients, my patients who had a cancer diagnosis. They would get a diagnosis of cancer and they would come to see me concurrently while they were seeing their oncologist, their radiation specialist, and lots of other people. And they wouldn't shed a tear. Their doctors would refer them to me.

Yeah, the wall is up. So I've noticed this many times when I was seeing patients, my patients who had a cancer diagnosis. They would get a diagnosis of cancer and they would come to see me concurrently while they were seeing their oncologist, their radiation specialist, and lots of other people. And they wouldn't shed a tear. Their doctors would refer them to me.

Yeah, the wall is up. So I've noticed this many times when I was seeing patients, my patients who had a cancer diagnosis. They would get a diagnosis of cancer and they would come to see me concurrently while they were seeing their oncologist, their radiation specialist, and lots of other people. And they wouldn't shed a tear. Their doctors would refer them to me.

And I would say, you know, are you feeling a sense of stress? Are you feeling a sense of burnout? Do you want to talk about anything? No, I'm fine. I'm good. I can handle it. I'm managing a sense of stoicism.

And I would say, you know, are you feeling a sense of stress? Are you feeling a sense of burnout? Do you want to talk about anything? No, I'm fine. I'm good. I can handle it. I'm managing a sense of stoicism.

And I would say, you know, are you feeling a sense of stress? Are you feeling a sense of burnout? Do you want to talk about anything? No, I'm fine. I'm good. I can handle it. I'm managing a sense of stoicism.

They got that clean bill of health. Congratulations, you're cancer free. See you in six months for surveillance. They were in my office the next day crying, saying I should be having a party. I should be celebrating. Why do I feel like this right now? And the reason you feel like that is because when you are going through a period of acute stress, you keep it together.

They got that clean bill of health. Congratulations, you're cancer free. See you in six months for surveillance. They were in my office the next day crying, saying I should be having a party. I should be celebrating. Why do I feel like this right now? And the reason you feel like that is because when you are going through a period of acute stress, you keep it together.

They got that clean bill of health. Congratulations, you're cancer free. See you in six months for surveillance. They were in my office the next day crying, saying I should be having a party. I should be celebrating. Why do I feel like this right now? And the reason you feel like that is because when you are going through a period of acute stress, you keep it together.

You hold it together, all of those emotions, those difficult feelings, you keep them pent up. When you feel psychologically safe, let's say you get a diagnosis that congratulations, your cancer is cured, or you move through an acute stress and you come out the other end and you feel that sense of psychological safety, which is what many of us are feeling now, by the way.