Mental Health During COVID-19
It’s been three and a half months since Washington was first given stay at home orders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially set to last two weeks, the stay at home orders continue to be in place (with some modifications) across the state. As some researchers are studying the virus, looking for a cure, and developing a vaccine, other researchers are looking into how COVID-19 and extended periods of quarantine are affecting people’s mental health.
The brain has evolved to respond to threats to our safety by activating the body’s fight or flight system. This physiological response is triggered by the perception of a physical or psychological threat to safety, causing a cascade of hormones. When your fight or flight system is activated, you may feel your heart rate increase and your breathing quicken, your muscles tremble, and your skin begin to sweat and flush or go pale. For example, if you’re out hiking and spot a bear on the trail, your fight or flight response is likely going to be activated. Once the threat has passed, your body returns to its resting state 20 to 60 minutes later. This system is very effective when faced with a danger that is relatively short-lived. But what about when the danger is ongoing?
Living through a pandemic is an ongoing threat to safety- it’s like spotting a bear twenty feet in front of you, except that you can’t get away from the bear. This prompts many people’s nervous systems to enter a nearly perpetual state of fight or flight. This is incredibly taxing to both the body and the mind. Physical symptoms you might notice include lower energy levels, an upset stomach, headaches, and aches or pains in your muscles. Mental symptoms include increased feelings of anxiousness or panic, feeling hopeless or depressed, being easily irritated, increased moodiness, and feeling out of control.
Under this kind of chronic stress, mental health issues are more likely to develop. While it will be a long time before researchers have a full picture of how COVID-19 is impacting mental health on a grand scale, initial reports suggest that people are experiencing anxiety and depression at much higher rates than before the pandemic began. In 2017, data indicated that approximately 1 in 5 individuals in the United States were experiencing an issue with their mental health. About 20% of the population had an anxiety disorder and about 7% had a depressive disorder. Since the pandemic began, those numbers have rapidly increased. While the research is ongoing, early numbers suggest that nearly 50% of people in the United States are now experiencing significant psychological distress with the rates of anxiety and depressive disorders nearly doubling. Calls to crisis centers have increased by as much as 1000% and more people than ever are seeking out mental health services.
If you are struggling, know that you are not alone. These incredibly difficult times may be bringing up past issues, creating more anxiety and hopelessness, or challenging your coping skills. If you have experienced a mental health issue in the past, it might now be resurfacing, or you may be experiencing a mental health issue for the first time. You may be wondering what’s normal or how you can support yourself and your loved ones through this.
It might be a good time to reach out to a therapist for extra support. You don’t need to be in an active crisis or unable to get out of bed to benefit from therapy. In fact, starting therapy before you hit a crisis point is a great time to start- by developing a relationship with your therapist and engaging in proactive work, you are more likely to be able to avoid a major mental health crisis down the line. A therapist can help you identify whether the symptoms you’re experiencing are indicative of a mental health diagnosis such as generalized anxiety disorder or major depressive disorder, or if they’re more in line with a response to the threat of a pandemic that will disappear when the threat does. Either way, your therapist can help you process and cope through what’s happening right now. In therapy you can identify your concerns, learn or rediscover coping skills, and work through what’s coming up for you individually in a safe, non-judgmental space. In a time where everyone is struggling, it may feel especially difficult to fully vent your thoughts and feelings when you know the person you’re venting to is also having a hard time. The effort of holding in your emotions is another way that both your physical and mental health can be taxed. Therapy can provide a space to give voice to your thoughts and feelings, freeing up your mental and emotional energy to take better care of yourself and those you love.
As you are navigating this time, if you find that you could use more support or have concerns about your mental health, don’t hesitate to reach out. Many therapists have moved to telehealth platforms that allow them to continue to see clients and provide services. If you live in Washington state and would like to work with me, please feel free to give me a call at 425-243-9086 or send me an email at hart@blossomcounselingwa.com.
If you’re interested in reading more in depth about the impact of COVID-19 on mental health and mental health services, check out these links:
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/what-covid-19-is-doing-to-our-mental-health
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/05/04/mental-health-coronavirus/
