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Even those who had not previously complained about anxiety and a sense of the meaninglessness of life, got acquainted with these states in the past year. Back in the spring, during the first lockdown, it became clear that the events of this strange year would not pass without a trace on the psyche of the majority. What are the most common consequences of the events of this time?
The mental health consequences of the pandemic can be compared to a natural disaster: worldwide, an increase in the number of patients with depression, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and anxiety has been recorded. Something similar was observed in 2003 after the outbreak of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) in China, Vietnam and other countries.
We experience grief and loss
And not only those of us who have lost loved ones due to the coronavirus: many have lost their jobs, income, financial stability, their usual standard of living (including the ability to travel, communicate with friends, and so on). All this is much more difficult to bear than one might think.
Stress levels skyrocket
And not only because the ideal treatment has not yet been found, but not everything is clear with the vaccine. A separate and rather serious source of stress is people who violate the prescribed rules (wearing masks, keeping a distance), which means that they put our health and even life at risk. It is especially difficult when, due to the attitude to the situation and the need to take precautions, disagreements arise with relatives or friends.
Burnout has become a mass phenomenon
According to psychotherapist Ashley Ertel, healthcare workers are especially susceptible to it: since spring, many of them have tirelessly saved the lives of others, risking their own health and refusing to rest, personal life and everything that normally helped them recover.
Psychologist Christina Hong Huber names another group of people who are highly prone to burnout – working parents with school-age children who are forced not only to continue working, but also to monitor how their children attend classes virtually. In addition, adults do not have time when they could take a break from children.
It is also hard for students who are deprived of the usual and necessary communication with their peers at their age. According to social worker Akira Peterkin, socialization is important for awareness of one’s own identity and personal growth and helps young people cope with stress.
It is still difficult to assess how serious the consequences for the psyche in general and development in particular can be caused by quarantine. “In each case, it all depends on the person: some will emotionally close and subsequently experience communication problems, others will begin to control every little thing in order to regain at least some sense of stability, and others will plunge into a feeling of hopelessness and helplessness,” the expert explains.
Depression levels are on the rise
“You do something, but the situation does not change. Moreover, more and more obstacles arise in front of you. Gradually, you lose the feeling that you are in control of your life, – comments Christina Hong Huber. “Add to this the disruption of the usual way of life, confinement within four walls, a sense of isolation from others … It is not surprising that negative thoughts and feelings accumulate like a snowball, and it seems that there is no end or end to this.”
According to experts, in winter, during the period of colds and lack of sunlight, the situation will only worsen: seasonal depression will be added to the general condition.
Increasing the level of anxiety
Unpredictability, lack of complete information, fear of getting sick and/or losing a job all fuel our anxiety. Especially goes to employees of support services – doctors, waiters, sellers, who are more at risk of getting sick.
Some people develop PTSD
Many experts compare the pandemic to war. So it is not surprising that the realities in which we have been forced to exist in recent months are causing some of us to experience post-traumatic stress disorder. To a greater extent, this, again, concerns health workers, but not only them. The reason for this is the desire to protect oneself and loved ones with the complete impossibility of doing this and somehow “release” the tension accumulated in the body.
WHAT CAN HELP US ALL?
It would be wrong to only talk about how the events of 2020 affected us, and not touch on the topic of recovery from these shocks.
First and foremost, in some countries, including ours, the vaccine is ready, which means that the horizon is close, and we just have to evenly distribute the remaining forces, including mental ones, in order to get to it.
Secondly, more and more studies are being published on how certain precautionary measures (washing hands and objects and treating them with sanitizers, wearing masks, gloves and glasses, keeping a distance, etc.) help protect yourself from the virus – all this reduces the overall uncertainty. What is happening becomes a little more understandable and predictable, and now you can develop calming rituals for yourself.
On the eve of the holidays, it is worth as much as possible, at least virtually, to communicate with people – relatives and friends, friends and colleagues. Congratulations are a great occasion to start a further conversation and provide yourself and loved ones with emotional support.
Finally, working from home has allowed many — certainly those who have not lost their income due to the pandemic — to go to therapy with an online psychologist. Some were brought to the specialist by general anxiety, others by difficulties in relationships with loved ones (especially in the conditions of coexistence on the same square 24/7).
Whatever the reason for the conversion, it allowed many to begin to understand their underlying problems, and thus reduce the level of fear, anxiety and manifestations of depression.
2020 has been a challenging and intimidating year, but it has helped so many turn to face each other. We began to make a conscious effort to connect with those around us, to care for others, both near and far. All of these are important for mental health recovery.