A Mental Health Crisis Amid the Pandemic
It’s no exaggeration to say that the COVID-19 pandemic turned the world upside down. Nearly every industry, from tourism and real estate to food businesses and healthcare, took large hits due to social distancing measures.
The pandemic did more than change our everyday lives, though. It also brought countless worries about personal health, safety, job security, and other everyday things we may have taken for granted before.
Considering all of these drastic changes and the worries they caused, it is no wonder that so many people’s mental health worsened during the pandemic.
A Mental Health Crisis Amid the Pandemic
The pandemic caused heightened levels of fear, anxiety, and stress among the general public. Experts have noticed more people struggling with mental health issues and substance use problems since the first few months of the pandemic.
A survey conducted in June 2020 showed that more than 40% of respondents reported adverse mental health, including symptoms of anxiety or depression, due to the pandemic. Meanwhile, over 13% said they fell into or resorted to increased substance use to cope with pandemic-related stress.
Additionally, alcohol consumption rates have gone up since the pandemic started as well. Binge drinking went up by 26% while the average number of drinks per day increased to 27%.
Mental Health Challenges During the Pandemic
It is ironic that the health and safety measures established to decrease the spread of the coronavirus contributed to challenges in getting mental health and addiction treatment.
Since the coronavirus is spread primarily in the air we breathe, everyone has been strongly advised to practice social distancing. Quarantines and lockdowns have also become a common response when virus rates rise.
However, staying away from people can be counterproductive for those with co-occurring disorders like depression and substance use disorder. Oftentimes, fellowship and checking in on people and with depression or those recovering from addiction is necessary to help keep them on their path to recovery.
Handling fear, grief, and anxiety can also be more difficult to do alone. Instead of recovering from these mental health problems, social distancing and isolation may exacerbate them.
Self-Care Strategies for Mental Health
It is still possible to take better care of ourselves and improve our mental health, despite all the challenges the pandemic poses. If there is one good thing about the pandemic, it’s that it led to the fast improvements and rollout of better virtual communication technology.
More therapists and addiction treatment centers now offer telemedicine services to better reach patients while still following social distancing measures.
There are many other self-care strategies that can help us cope with the stress of the pandemic better. Examples include:
- Regular physical activity, such as following exercise or dance apps and walking in parks or nature trails
- Sticking to a regular sleep schedule
- Making a conscious effort to limit screen time, especially before bedtime
- Limiting exposure to news, which may heighten fears, anxiety, and depressive thoughts
- Setting aside time chat or video call with friends and loved ones
Last Words of Advice
The extreme fear we initially had as the pandemic started to spread in 2020 may have mellowed down but, just like the virus, the fear is still somewhere in our minds.
Practicing self-care and having a better awareness of when you or a loved one may need professional help goes a long way towards weathering all the stress and anxiety from the pandemic.
If you or a loved one is struggling with getting proper treatment for co-occurring disorders, contact us today at 855-575-1292.
References:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2020/11/09/parents-alcohol-consumption-covid/
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/seven_ways_the_pandemic_is_affecting_our_mental_health
https://www.news-medical.net/health/Protecting-your-Mental-Health-During-a-Pandemic.aspx
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/mental-health-during-the-pandemic-1-year-on
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6932a1.htm
https://www.mindsetsd.com/blog/the-affects-a-pandemic-can-have-on-your-mental-health