How is COVID-19 Affecting Mental Health?

Humans are social beings, so cutoff from normal socialization is bound to lead to loneliness. When loneliness is extended due to pandemic guidelines, mental illness is more likely to progress, especially depression. You can read more about the psychological and physical effects of loneliness in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior by clicking here.

Along with overall loneliness, the stress from the pandemic itself can take a toll on mental health. The constant coverage by news sources and the strict CDC guidelines can negatively affect individuals with previous conditions such as OCD. For a more specific example, some individuals with OCD wash their hands repeatedly, so hearing the CDC call for this now can lead to confusion and relapsing since they are being told to do something that they previously were mostly likely trying to stop. You can read more about personal experiences with COVID-19 and OCD by clicking here.

I am sure anyone that is currently taking classes online due to the pandemic would agree that it is not the same. Some struggle with self-motivation, so having the freedom to watch lectures on their own time is not always the best option. These changes can lead to heightened anxiety, and this could be due to fear of grades dropping from lack of motivation or overall struggles from the online format. Dealing with effects from a global pandemic as well as school work and maintaining grades is not easy, and many are struggling right now because of it.

With all of these stressors being common right now, you would hope that help is easy to come by. The issue, however, is that since face-to-face interactions are widely banned, it is not as easy to either continue therapy or to find a therapist. Therapists are working hard to create online and phone options, but at what cost? Some therapists are worried that those already in therapy for addiction are likely to relapse without in-person counseling. For those that are reaching out now for help, speaking over the phone seems much less comforting than looking at someone sitting across the room from you. Obviously, this is an opinion, but personal experiences with those in the field during this time can be found here.

As stressors increase, the willingness of many to help increases as well. Many therapists, professors, and friends are doing their best to alleviate personal stress as much as possible. Although online options are not the top choice for many, we are all working to adapt and overcome this stressful and challenging time.