COVID-19 Is Taking A Mental Toll,
But We Can Fight Back
By Wes and Anna Hessel
Coronavirus Cuts Deep
As we move into summer, we leave Mental Health Awareness Month (May) behind. We are now looking forward to longer, warmer days, and the associated activities. But, the cold chill of COVID-19 and the resulting restrictions are creating problems well beyond the physical illness. Researchers are now documenting emotional and psychological issues related to the coronavirus. An article in psychologytoday.com looked at the mental and the physical effects of the illness. Studies in China found lingering physical symptoms such as myalgia and dizziness. On a self-rated health status questionnaire patients also noted significant mental disturbances related to the pandemic. People described increased occurrence of anxiety, stress, and depression. In a study group of over 1250 individuals exposed to the coronavirus, more than 33% exhibited insomnia, 45% had anxiety, 50% reported depression, and almost 72% described distress.
Long Term Effects
The SARS-CoV epidemic in 2003 showed the emotional cost is unlikely to be a passing problem. Researchers in Hong Kong looked at 90 survivors of that virus. The study group was considered well-educated with a mean age of 41. Thirty percent of them were health care professionals. One in ten in that study had at least one family member die of SARS-CoV. Overall, close to 60% had some form of mental disorder – over 6% a type of agoraphobia, 13% had a panic issue, more than 44% suffered from major depression, and nearly 48% suffered from PTSD. When re-examined 2½ years after recovery, 3% still suffered from agoraphobia, almost 8% still suffered from a panic disorder, 13% major depression, and 25% displayed PTSD.
Counting The COVID-19 Cost
And the irony, as the Psychology Today article pointed out, “COVID-19 is more contagious (i.e., spreads rapidly or exponentially) between humans than SARS-CoV.” The spread comes principally through respiratory droplets or contact with even asymptomatic carriers. However, it is less lethal than SARS-CoV that claimed 10% of all infected victims. The other recent coronavirus, MERS-CoV it is the most deadly, tragically killing 35% of those who contracted it according WHO.
It’s All Going To Our Heads
It is no wonder that COVID-19 is having far-reaching, craterous impact on the mental health of our nation, as well as that of the rest of the world. Lives and lifestyles came to a sudden halt, leaving isolation and fear in its wake. Apprehension of the unknown and our own mortality stirs emotions within our souls, causing irrational fear. There’s nothing normal about the “new normal” – and just what is that?
An Exercise In Metaphors
The definitions run from the sublime to the ridiculous. Look at all the issues that could lead to potential psychological problems: staying in place – not going out to socialize, fraternize, or exercise. When we do go out, it’s mostly for essentials. And those trips now bring extra burdens: masks, spacing, one-way aisles, and so on. The environment in the stores carries metaphors for our internal condition. The empty shelves mirroring our empty selves. Conflicting ideas of what is safe and when. Face coverings obscuring smiles or other expressions. Similar to the masks we wear to project what we want others to see, versus what we want to hide away, guarded from view. No man is an island, but it sure looks like we are trying…
Virtually Disconnected
The increasing virtual world and social media is a poor substitute for actual physical and emotional contact. Social distancing can lead to emotional distancing – lack of IRL contact can contribute to conflict in real relationships. Often complicated by increased drinking and/or drug use. The physical gaps limit or even prevent human touch between friends, significant others, child and parent – missing are handshakes, hug therapy, hand-holding, contact in dance (and we don’t mean twerking).
Memories Blurred
Centers of social contact are significantly limited. Churches, schools, coffee shops, clubs, parks, pools, etc are closed. Life event commemorations, such as graduations, weddings, and most significantly, funerals, are canceled, which is especially difficult for extended family and close friends. Gatherings for worship or culture – churches, theaters, museums, sport or hobby, are shut down. Children cannot play with, or even see friends, except at a distance or by video chat. Especially in the case of children, things cannot replace personal contact. All the while parents encourage hand-washing and personal distancing trying not to scare their kids.
What Lies Beneath
What it can and has led to is a major increase in social and relational strife, as well as mental illness. Here are just some of what can happen: lack of sleep or exercise, or too much of either, drains energy.Sweats are now the typical attire. Lowered grooming priority, or lack of access to beauty care providers increases insecurities and diminishes self-esteem. Working from home or staying home long-term potentially breeds feelings of anxiety, isolation, and depression.“Cabin fever” and forced closeness over extended periods of time can lead to petty squabbles, arguments, domestic violence, and child abuse. Relationships stagnate, sour, and some end in breakup, or divorce.
Care Delayed
Over two million five hundred infected, and 120,000 plus deaths weigh heavy on the mind. Death and serious illness all around us in incomprehensible numbers. Fear, panic attacks, and suicide are increasing. Medical care is delayed, or avoided altogether as people worry of contracting COVID-19 when they go to the doctor’s office. Stress-related conditions like migraines mushroom, stress-exacerbated disorders such as autoimmune or digestive diseases worsen significantly, and stress-triggered dangers such as cardiac events, aneurysm, and stroke skyrocket.
You Say Deh-NEARS, I Say Deh-NYE-ers
We must take precautions to prevent or slow the spread of the pandemic until we can bring it under control with testing, treatment, and vaccine. The procedures necessary to control the spread of the virus seem almost germaphobic, or even OCD, as mental distinctions blur in this pandemic. Hoarders hog items for reasons of misunderstanding, fear, or greed. Doomsayers compare this pandemic to the 1918 “Spanish” flu pandemic which is not really appropriate. Two distinctions of note; first, there was a world war going on, and second, there has been a 100 years of medical science and technological advancement.
The Disbelievers
Confusion and frustration is all around. There are the disbelievers, conspiracy theorists, and selfish people that interfere with the safety of the many, by refusing to mask or social distance, ignoring both experts and common sense. Then there are the fear-motivated individuals who pronounce arbitrary prolonged timelines of self-restriction and self-isolation, having seemingly become functional agoraphobics. The lack of leadership and obvious disinterest from the Trump White House verifies that this president and his political allies could care less about the well-being of the American people.
Vicious Spiral Needs Checked
It reminds us of the character Glum in ‘The Adventures of Gulliver’ cartoons – forever the Lilliputian pessimist, he was wont to uttering negative predictions in his distinctive downer voice like, “It’ll never work”, or, “We’ll never make it”. But Gulliver and his diminutive friends always managed to come out ahead. Why? Because of the positive attitudes of the majority of the group.
A Cycle Circling
The emotional and psychological slide developing as an effect of the coronavirus could be described as a “vicious spiral”. This is the idea that if you take the proverbial “vicious circle” and look at it three dimensionally, from the figurative side, the cycle of negative effect, the result is no longer a circle per se, but the arc of a spiral descending. From above it looks like we are right back where we started, but we are actually a level below the beginning and going lower. The solution is to apply something, or somethings to arrest the skid, and start the climb to where we were, and hopefully rise above.
What We Can Do
Instead of feeling small, we need to find strength by deciding to work together as families, friends, groups, and communities to help lift and encourage each other up, another step in the right direction. Each one of us can make a difference, if we choose to. We are all in this together, even if we are physically apart, and some of the answers may well lie in the technology that is often blamed for psychological detachment.
Possibilities For Progress
Perhaps for starters, we can take a lesson many of us have learned from natural disasters and violent attacks such as September 11th. Check in to make sure people you know are OK. Physical health should be the first priority, but then follow up with an emotional well-being check. It can be as simple as, “How are you doing?” and really meaning it. And really delve into the typical, “oh, I’m fine” response. Open up and talk about your own concerns and what you are doing to deal with them. Finding common ground with others and embracing those scattered rays of light as blessings can be edifying, as well. For instance, being out of the physical space of a toxic work environment can provide a necessary respite. Build on your faith, including you own inner strength. Look for beauty in nature, art, and each other. Recall the words of such great inspiring, positive people such as Franklin D. Roosevelt, “…the only thing we have to fear is fear itself”, or Winston Churchill, “Never give in…”
Still The All-Time Best Seller
Consider what many experts have noted in the Bible, that God says in various forms 365 times to not worry, be anxious, or afraid – one for each day of the year. And Paul addresses it in II Timothy 1:7, ”For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (NKJV) Even if you are not a person of faith, find strength inside and around you.
Be A Good Neighbor
If someone appears to be at a point where they need help of a significant nature, encourage them to reach out to a professional or trusted counselor, such as a member of the clergy, a teacher, or a healthcare provider. And if they seem to be very seriously considering hurting themselves or someone else, find emergency mental health resources in the area to direct them to, or if need be, alert local professionals if the at-risk person won’t, or can’t make the call.
References:
(https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5249a2.htm)
(https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/mers/us.html)
(https://www.who.int/emergencies/mers-cov/en/)
(https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/cases-in-us.html)
The New King James Version published in 1982 by Thomas Nelson
