Mental Wellbeing during a Pandemic
There has never been a time in the ‘modern world’ where our physical health has been in jeopardy. The Covid-19 Pandemic did not exist just a few months ago and now within just a few weeks the state of our mental health is in question. The Kaiser Family foundation just released a new poll where more than half of respondents revealed their mental health is being harmed by the Pandemic. That is a staggering but not surprising statistic. Andrew Solomon’s op-ed in the NYTimes writes about the Pandemic’s underlying effects: “an escalation in both short-term and long-term clinical mental illness that may endure for decades after the pandemic recedes.”
If not for a globally connected world - (i.e. economy, travel, etc), the virus would not have spread so fast, and now our physical and mental health is being threatened by a novel coronavirus possibly effecting every human on earth, and every day we wake up we wonder if it will be our last. Sounds farfetched, but for some, this is reality. One minute we feel fine, the next we have a fever and shortness of breath. If we don’t catch it now, we may catch it in the Fall or next Winter. There is a good chance of catching this virus before a vaccine is created. Some individuals are a-symptomatic so they can spread it to a loved-one without knowing it. This fact alone can be stressful.
Our future is unknown. Our anxiety is high. Our mental health is being tested like we have never seen before. Some people have taken to social media to post amusing video’s, while others have criticized governments around the world for their inept responses or authoritarian laws to quell the spread. History will give us graphs of number of positive cases and death rates, but what is hard to track, or measure, is the mental toll it will take on the human population.
Emma Pattee of the NYTimes wrote an article back in February 2020 about the difference between worry, stress and anxiety. There is no mention of the coronavirus mentioned in the article so her timing was ironic. Here is her takeaway: Worry happens in the mind, stress happens in the body, and anxiety happens in the mind and the body. She writes that in “small doses,” worry, stress and anxiety can be positive forces in our lives. But research shows that most people, before the Pandemic, were too worried, too stressed and too anxious. Imagine now what people are going through. According to Dr. Luana Marques, an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and the president of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, is that there are simple steps to help regulate your symptoms: Get enough sleep; eat nutritious meals; and exercise - not easy during a Pandemic when we must stay in our homes, but being mindful of these steps can be extremely helpful to manage anxiety.
Journaling has benefits…
Instead of projecting or worrying about the future, take some time to journal your thoughts and concerns. Writing can be therapeutic. Studies have shown that there are benefits to journaling for anxiety, depression and stress. Writing this blog has been helpful to me as I sit every morning absorbing the latest news or interacting with my stressed-out family. I worry about my 85 year old mother or my husband who are both health-compromised. I have two adult children, one of whom is living and working in Manhattan, the other is furloughed in Nashville. I’ve always felt like a calm, level-headed person my whole life, but now I feel this tightness in my belly and chest that I would guess is stress and anxiety. I take deep breaths. I try to practice meditation. Oh, how I miss my yoga instructor!
Another way to cope is to consider art or crafting. The benefits of artistic expression go much further than relaxation and enjoyment. Studies suggest that art therapy can be very valuable in treating issues such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and even some phobias. Being creative can be an outlet for the stress and worry in our lives and it can also help us pass the time. Craft ideas are endless. Just check out Pinterest or shop online to find ideas. This is a great time to finish the scrapbooks you started when the kids were young, or to knit a blanket or sweater for your grandchild. Doing anything creative can help the brain manage anxiety.
Reaching out to an old friend or family member is helpful, too. Don’t text but call that person. Hearing a human voice on the other end of the phone is a testament to modern technology. Connect - distantly, of course - with others. Share stories and try and keep a sense of humor. The deliberate act of calling means more than you can imagine.
The Center for Disease Control has a page on their website that covers mental health during a Pandemic. Here are some of what they recommend:
Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media.
Take care of your body; eat healthy meals, exercise and get plenty of sleep.
Avoid alcohol - (alcohol is a depressant which will make you blue, or sad, the next day).
Eat healthy, whole food
Surrounding yourself with nature, or pictures of nature, can help relieve stress and anxiety. Studies have proven that animals, too, can help with stress and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Most people would agree that pets are extremely helpful during stressful times. Humane societies have seen an uptick in adoptions of cats and dogs which is another silver-lining to this Pandemic. Some have called their new best friend their “Pandemic Puppy”. Whatever the choice, pets can help with countless days, weeks and possibly months quarantined at home.
Owning a pet can help….
This Pandemic is stressful, no doubt. Everyone will experience it differently. Relationships will be tested, but in the end, we will come out of it stronger and better than ever. As they say, there could be a sliver lining to this historic time. Be aware of your feelings and of those around you who are struggling or reacting in a different way than your own. Try to be calm and take deep breaths. Be mindful, be strong, be well.
We are all in this together.
