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. 2020 May 11;5(3):e000801. doi: 10.1136/esmoopen-2020-000801

Brief letter of a doctor to his psychologist in the COVID-19 outbreak era

Daniele Santini 1,, Giuseppe Tonini 1
PMCID: PMC7223352  PMID: 32398253

Dear Laura,

I am at work everyday. Work is so much harder now as we are living on live wires! These masks always leave me with a constant, dull headache and an annoying plastic taste. It’s so difficult to sleep well due to the recurring nightmares and frequent awakenings. I always feel a little guilty when I see my children during the evenings, but I wouldn’t be able to behave differently. I haven’t been able to see my mother for a long time. She is alone with her fears and hopes. When I’m alone at night, I am silently moved when I perceive the fatigue and fear of my colleagues who are either near or far away from me. But I am fine. Strangely enough, I feel good. I too send you a heartfelt hug in the hope that I shall soon see my personal pusher of serenity and certainties! Warmest wishes to you and all your family.

Footnotes

Contributors: writing ideation.

Funding: The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

Competing interests: None declared.

Patient consent for publication: Obtained.

Provenance and peer review: Not commissioned; internally peer reviewed.

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