Covid Mental Health Problems- Best Useful Tips

How COVID 19 affected our mental health

Covid mental health issues are a significant concern for the health industry. Covid 19 and Mental health both are interlinked. Long-term stress like Covid-19 negatively impacts our mental health. The stress level increased during the pandemic lockdown, and our mental health worsened simultaneously. Since Covid people from all over the world reported anxiety issues or depression. Diet and exercise have links with mental health. Dietary and physical activity changes during the Covid-19 quarantine created mental health issues for many.

Is the coronavirus pandemic affecting our mental health?

Coronavirus spread across the world and in a rapid fashion. It introduced a considerable degree of fear, worry and concern among people irrespective of gender, age group and ethnicity. But more affected were elderly persons. Covid mental health thus should be a significant concern, and healthcare providers should focus on the issue with utmost care.

Can COVID-19 lead to mental and neurological complications?

COVID-19 can lead to mental complications like delirium, agitation, and stroke. People with pre-existing mental, neurological or substance use disorders are more vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 or Covid 19. They are prone to a higher risk of severe outcomes and even death.

How can I care for my mental health during COVID-19?

During Covid-19, you might experience depression or anxiety, more than usual. If you are stuck at home, try to follow regular sleep, meal, or work schedule. It will help you to fight mental health issues.

What are some suggestions for managing anxiety during the COVID 19 pandemic? – – Covid Mental Health

It is essential to stay informed. But there is a lot of misinformation going around. Therefore, you have to be careful what you choose to watch or listen to and what not.

• Always Stick to trustworthy sources like the CDC, the World Health Organization (WHO), or your local or national public health authorities.
• Try to limit how often you check for updates. Do not constantly monitor news and social media feeds. This habit can turn compulsive and counterproductive. It might fuel your anxiety rather than ease it.
• Try to step away from the media if you start feeling overwhelmed.
• Be careful what you share. Do not share rumours without justifying their source.

What can I do to relieve stress, worry, and fear during the COVID 19 pandemic? – Covid Mental Health

Exercise is your best solution to release anxiety. Being active will relieve stress and manage your mood. During Covid, the gym and group classes are out but do that completely restrict your ability to exercise? You can try other options like cycling, walking, jogging, yoga, etc.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many changes to our life. It reorganised our life and how we live them. Coronavirus changed our daily routines. It has put many financial pressures, and social isolation has increased multi-fold. We are worried about if we get sick and how minute that illness might be. We are concerned about how long the pandemic will last. There is job insecurity and insecurity about our plans. There is information overload, rumours and misinformation; all of a sudden, everybody becomes an expert. 

Therefore, stress, anxiety, fear, sadness and loneliness became part and parcel of our lives.

Self-care strategies for Covid mental health

Self-care strategies put you in charge of your life. It is best for mental and physical health.

Be mindful of your physical health:

• You should get good sleep. Try to form the habit of going to bed and getting up simultaneously every day.
• Try to participate in regular physical activity. Regular exercise reduces anxiety and improves mood.
• Eat healthily. Try to avoid junk food and choose a balanced diet.
• Limit caffeine intake as it may aggravate stress, anxiety and sleep problems.
• Try to avoid tobacco, alcohol and drugs. Smoking puts your lungs at risk. As COVID affects the lungs, the risk increases more. Using alcohol reduces coping skills. The same goes for drugs.
• Avoid sedimentary activity. Try to limit screen time of electronic devices such as television, tablet, computer and phone. Switch your phone to bedtime mode at least 30 before bedtime.
• Recharge yourself with yoga, asanas and pranayama (deep breathing). Yoga and meditation will help you to relax.

Take care of your mind-Covid mental health.

Reduce stress triggers:

• Always try to maintain a regular daily routine. It is vital for your mental health. Stick to a regular schedule, whether it is bedtime routine, time for meals, bathing and getting dressed, work or time for study or exercise. This type of predictability will make you feel more in control.
• Continuous news and updates from news and media regarding COVID or it’s variants such as Omicron can increase your inner fears. Therefore, limit media broadcasts and keep up to date on national and local recommendations. Always trust sources like U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
• Keep yourself busy. Distractions keep your mind away from negative vibes that feed anxiety and depression.
• Try to engage in hobbies like reading, painting, cooking, etc. These activities will provide positive energy and help you manage depression and anxiety.

Connect and reconnect with others – – Covid Mental Health

A significant thing to do during Covid is to build support and strengthen relationships. If you are in isolation due to covid or are working from home, make time to contact people in your social circle over email, phone, or video chat. Talk to your friends and family and share your thoughts and emotions. This way, you can reduce loneliness and keep away many mental health issues from building up.

Try to help people around you. Like, such as checking on family, friends or elderly neighbours. If you know someone unable to get out for any reason, try to help them with groceries, medicines, etc. Helping others is a perfect way to help ourselves.

Get help when you need it-Covid mental health.

Mental health issues like anxiety or depression do not go away independently. They need to be treated to be cared for right away. Otherwise, the symptoms will only worsen over time.

Contact your primary care provider or a mental health professional to discuss your anxiety or depression issues. Get professional advice and guidance. Due to covid situation, some professionals could provide the option of phone or video consultation instead of a typical visit.

Continue your self-care strategies.

We do not know when the Coronavirus pandemic will be over or if it will be over for good. Your strong feelings might subside with time and consultation but always continue self-care practices to care for your mental health. It will increase your coping ability to face stress and life’s ongoing challenges.

Multiple stress factors

During a pandemic, social isolation is a significant reason for stress. Stress decreases our ability to work, perform social responsibilities etc. There are many stress factors like loneliness, fear of infection, suffering from covid, fear of death, fear of death for loved ones, grief after losing loved ones, financial worries, etc. These stress factors lead to anxiety and depression. Exhaustion has been cited as one of the most stressful factors among health care workers.

Young people and women worst hit-Covid mental health

The pandemic has affected young people’s mental health as they are becoming lonely due to lockdown and isolation. They are at risk of suicidal and self-harming behaviours. Women’s mental health is more impacted by covid-19 than men’s. People with a pre-existing diseases like asthma, cancer and heart disease are more prone to mental health issues. Because of pre-existing conditions, these people are more likely to get hospitalised.

During the pandemic, various mental health services were disrupted as the critical focus of hospitals was covid patients. By mid of 2022, the situation has improved a lot. But still, many people are unable to get pre-existing and newly developed mental health care and support.

Don’t get caught up in fear of what might happen – Covid mental health

• Frequently wash your hands. If you are using soap and water, do that for a minimum of 30 seconds, or use at least 70% alcohol-based hand sanitiser. 
• Avoid touching your face (particularly your eyes, nose, and mouth).
• Stay at home. Try to avoid crowded places.
• Try to keep at least 6 feet of distance between yourself and others when outside.
• Get plenty of sleep, which will help your mind relax and support your immune system.

References

1. Abbott, A. (2021). COVID’s mental-health toll: how scientists are tracking a surge in depression. Nature, 590(7845), 194–195. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-00175-z
2. Gouvernet, B., Sebbe, F., Chapillon, P., Rezrazi, A., & Brisson, J. (2022). Period poverty and mental health in times of covid-19 in France. Health Care for Women International, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1080/07399332.2022.2070625
3. Xiong, J., Lipsitz, O., Nasri, F., Lui, L. M. W., Gill, H., Phan, L., Chen-Li, D., Iacobucci, M., Ho, R., Majeed, A., & McIntyre, R. S. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in the general population: A systematic review. Journal of Affective Disorders, 277, 55–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.08.001