The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting more than just people’s physical health. For those fighting a mental illness, the coronavirus may feel like a personal nightmare come to life.
According to a recent poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation, 56 percent of Americans reported that COVID-19 has proven to be detrimental to their mental health.
Understandably, between numerous safety measures and social distancing, it can become easy to feel a little lost during this time. Unfortunately, this has also led to a disconnection from traditional support systems.
But the term “social distancing” does not mean that you have to go into social isolation. Luckily, the digital age is here, and finding new and helpful support systems may only be just a few clicks away.
Mental Health Issues
Anxiety
Anxiety makes a meal out of more anxiety.
With the coronavirus pandemic upon us, it can be difficult to avoid some extra feelings of stress or even panic. However, for those already struggling with an anxiety disorder, COVID-19 may present its own unique difficulties.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), anxiety disorders are currently ranked as the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting over 18.1 percent of the population. Yet still, less than 37 percent of this number actually seek professional help.
While there are many different kinds of anxiety, the most common form is defined as Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Typically, this is characterized by recurrent worry and fear-based anxiety. Because of the compulsive nature of this disorder, relationships and daily routines can also become disrupted.
Though anxiety affects all ages, it has recently become particularly high amongst older adults. This is largely due to the fact that they are at a greater risk of contracting the coronavirus. In the US alone, 80 percent of COVID-19 deaths have fallen among those who are above 65 years old.
Even so, younger generations should not be overlooked during this time as the coronavirus outbreak is new territory for all of us.
To learn more about finding ways to cope with anxiety and to help stop this disorder’s rise in numbers, keep reading.
Resources
General resources:
- ADAA or the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, is an international organization dedicated to providing information for a multitude of disorders in order to help those who are struggling find healing. To reach them by phone, call: 1-240-485-1001
- Resources for Anxiety This article provides a list of helpful resources on how to cope with anxiety disorders and where to find help.
- Crisis Text Line provides around the clock support for those in crisis as a charge-free service. Text HOME to 741741.
For adults:
- This ADAA blog post is a great resource that specifically deals with seniors facing anxiety.
- How to deal with anxiety This article goes into depth about different kinds of anxiety and how to deal with them.
- Books on anxiety This list from Healthline includes 13 books that can help shed a light on anxiety disorders and how to cope with it.
- Podcasts To help put your anxieties to ease, listening to any of the podcasts in this list compiled by Psychology Today podcasts can help.
For youth/teens:
- Giveusthefloor.org is a unique site that classifies itself as a “teen-only” peer support group. It is also easily recognizable by their popular hashtag #ByTeens4Teens
- Podcasts on anxiety– Specifically catered toward teens, this article gives a list of some of the best podcasts to listen to for youth struggling with an anxiety disorder.
- Books on anxiety– These books, written by members of the ADAA are helpful resources for both children and teens with anxiety.
Depression
For those struggling with depression, self-isolation can have compounding effects. After all, depression feeds on loneliness.
But what exactly classifies as depression? While everyone has moments or even days of feeling sad or low, depression takes these feelings and extends them far beyond a day or two.
Instead, it can negatively affect things such as daily activities, sleep patterns, work and one’s social life. With this, feelings of hopelessness paired with a loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyed are also very common within the disorder.
To be clinically diagnosed with the illness, these symptoms must be actively present for at least two weeks.
On your own, depression can feel like a never-ending downward spiral. But, with the right resources and support, the journey toward recovery may be closer than you think.
Resources
General resources:
- ADAA or the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, is an international organization dedicated to providing information for a multitude of disorders in order to help those who are struggling find healing. To reach them by phone, call: 1-240-485-1001
- Resources for depression This article from Everyday Health provides a list of helpful resources on how to cope with anxiety disorders and where to find help.
- Crisis text line provides around the clock support for those in crisis as a charge-free service. Text HOME to 741741.
For adults:
- Talkspace is an online platform that can quickly help match those struggling with depression or other disorders to the right therapist.
- Books on depression This resource provides a list of 30 self-help books for those fighting depression.
For youth/teens:
- Teen depression This article outlines the “whys” of teen depression and offers helpful tips for how to cope with it.
- The DBSA or Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance offers an online support system for teens battling mental health illnesses.
- Books on depression This list of books deals with topics surrounding depression and can act as a good learning tool for both teens and their parents.
Eating disorders
Without seeking immediate help, those battling an eating disorder are at high risk of hitting a new kind of roadblock when it comes to recovery. Social isolation creates the perfect environment for these disorders to grow as they become much easier to hide from others.
Along with this, when everything else seems out of control in the world, eating disorders can turn into an unhealthy coping mechanism for some people as they try and regain control over a part of their life.
Typically, eating disorders can be identified by severe changes or disturbances in one’s eating behaviors over an extended period of time. Not only can this take a physical toll on a person’s body, but those suffering with the illness tend to deal with an extreme sense of low self-esteem, negative body image and perfectionism.
While most commonly found in females, eating disorders do not discriminate against any gender, age group or race. In fact, many of these people may not even realize they have the disorder until it has already overtaken them.
To bring even more attention to just how serious the illness can be, the NIMH showed that if untreated, eating disorders can become fatal due to the physical effects it can have on one’s body.
Unfortunately, the National Eating Disorders Association found that 70 percent of those with eating disorders will not seek out treatment due to feelings of shame or denial. In reality, this should never be a reason not to get help.
The solution? Reaching out is the first and most important step toward finding healing. If you start to notice any of these symptoms in yourself or others, don’t wait to act.
Resources
General resources (all ages):
- NEDA or the National Eating Disorders Association is the biggest nonprofit organization committed to helping those with eating disorders.
- Eating Disorder Hope is jam-packed full of resources including: information on eating disorders, treatment centers, recovery tools and additional support.
- The Emily Program is an online resource devoted to providing recovery-related podcasts for eating disorders.
PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is when a person develops a mental health disorder after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening or traumatizing event. Oftentimes, those who suffer from this illness have a higher chance of developing dangerous substance addictions. Difficulty sleeping, mood changes and severe anxiousness is also common.
According to the NIMH, all age groups are at risk of developing PTSD if exposed to abuse or trauma.
For children and teens, a study by the National Center for PTSD found that 3 to 15 percent of girls and 1 to 6 percent of boys develop PTSD due to childhood traumas. For adults, between 7 and 8 percent of the population will actively experience PTSD in their lives.
During times of isolation, it is important to pay attention to your mental health and to how you react to your circumstances.
If symptoms related to PTSD continue to persist or worsen in your life, seeking treatment should become a top priority. Fortunately, there are still many online resources that can help.
Resources
For adults:
- Resources for PTSD contains a list of helpful resources and information to help fight PTSD.
- Beyond My Battle is a free virtual support system for those battling PTSD during times of social isolation.
For youth/teens:
- kidshealth.org provides useful information on PTSD that is presented in a way that can be easily understood by youth.
- NCTSN or The National Child Traumatic Stress Network provides support for adolescents who have been through traumatic events.
Addiction
Everyone has different ways of coping with stressful situations. However, when coping mechanisms begin to fall under the umbrella of addiction, this is a sign that it may be time to get help.
According to Medline Plus, substance use disorder is when a person’s reliance on a substance, typically drugs or alcohol, interferes with their ability to function inside and outside of the home. Other symptoms include health issues and lack of control.
In a 2017 study, almost four percent of adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 were found battling a substance use disorder. After age 18, substance abuse is shown to continually keep climbing affecting up to nearly 15 percent or one out of every seven people by the time they reach 25 years old. Keeping these statistics in mind, it is crucial to work toward breaking this pattern of addiction early on in order to stop this cycle from repeating itself.
Not surprisingly, it is also common for this disorder to be paired with other mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression or PTSD. That said, if you are struggling with a substance use disorder, there is no time to waste. Check out the resources provided below and begin to take your life back.
Resources
General resources:
- SAMHSA’S National Helpline is open 24/7 year-round for anyone struggling with a substance use disorder by providing free referral services to local treatment facilities, support groups and organizations. To reach this service, call: 1-800-662-HELP.
For adults:
- NIDA (The National Institute on Drug Abuse) gives good insight into PTSD and provides links to resources on fighting addictions such as drug and alcohol abuse.
- The Addicted Mind is an online platform that provides podcasts that are related to finding healing from addictions and other mental health issues.
For youth/teens:
- SAHM provides an abundance of online resources for adolescents struggling with substance use disorder and other addictions.
Insomnia and sleep deprivation
It is no secret that sleep is an important part of a person’s life and overall health. But did you know that sleep not only improves your body’s health physically but mentally as well?
According to the Sleep Foundation, good sleep increases brain function, boosts immune systems and can enhance a person’s overall mood. On the flip side, a lack of sleep can cause the opposite effects.
In order to maintain good health, the CDC recommends that adults get over seven hours of sleep each night. Anything less than that, within a 24-hour period, is considered less than satisfactory.
However, one study found that 50 to 70 million adults in the US have a sleep disorder. The most common of these is insomnia.
Insomnia can be recognized by a few different reoccurring traits. One of the first signs of the disorder is having immense trouble falling or staying asleep despite having the right environment to sleep in. With this, daily activities can easily become affected as a lack of quality sleep can mess with one’s performance in day to day tasks.
Typically, the causes for this disorder are stress-related. Unfortunately, with a global pandemic bringing all kinds of new stressors into play, putting insomnia to rest may prove to be even more difficult during this time (but not impossible).
Interestingly, studies have also found that sleep deprivation can contribute to other mental health disorders including: depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Knowing this, it is important to keep track of how much sleep you get in order to understand how it is affecting both your mind and body.
Contrary to the popular phrase, “you snooze, you lose,” you actually lose more if you don’t snooze. This said, if you are experiencing a change in your sleeping habits, there are some good tips and resources that can easily be found online to help foster better sleep patterns.
Resources
General resources (all ages):
- Music therapy has been proven to help people relax and can be used as a combative tool to fight insomnia.
- The National Sleep Foundation provides its readers with some tips and tricks for conquering sleep disorders such as insomnia.
How remote therapy works
While the idea of remote therapy is not necessarily a new concept, some people may struggle with the idea of losing the in-person interaction that previously came with seeing their therapists in an office setting.
But with the help of technology, trained psychotherapists and an abundance of online resources, the jump to remote therapy may not be as scary or as complicated as you might think.
In fact, the ADAA has found that in many cases, online therapy sessions work just as well as the in-person ones with little to no hiccups. As long as a good, stable internet connection is maintained, therapy sessions should be able to proceed as normal.
Another benefit of remote therapy lies in the fact that it can be done from nearly anywhere in the world. For some, talking to a therapist over the phone or online can make them feel more comfortable or more at ease as it can be done from the safe environment of their own home.
However, there is no surefire way to please everyone in this kind of situation and there are still a number of drawbacks to virtual therapy that may be off-putting to some.
For example, picking up body cues between both therapist and client can prove to be very difficult without face-to-face interaction. Because of this, tones can become misinterpreted and messages can easily get lost in translation when dealing with therapy online or over the phone. However, video calls may be a solution to this problem.
Another issue virtual therapy can bring is unpredictable technological mishaps. Not only that, but some people may be more challenged or less knowledgeable regarding how to use the technology that is needed in order to access their therapy.
However, for therapists, despite needing some extra time to fully adapt to these new changes, many have also been able to experience the benefits of working from home.
Even so, no matter what kind of therapy is available, it is always a good idea to take advantage of its services in order to maintain or achieve a healthier lifestyle.
Staying connected
Ways to stay connected
While it is important to maintain social distancing at this time, it is still no excuse to self-isolate. In fact, separating yourself from others can have serious negative effects on your mental health. Fortunately, there are many ways to stay connected while still practicing good social distancing techniques.
- Technology. Nowadays, there are endless ways to connect with people online or through the use of technological devices. Sending frequent text messages, e-mails, and engaging in phone calls and video chats are great ways to stay connected while still being personal.
Also, make sure to check in with people often. Do not wait for others to contact you first. Instead, take the initiative to check in on their wellbeing before your own. By doing this, you may start to notice how this can actually have positive effects on your mental wellbeing as well.
- Spend time with the people who are close to you. If you are living in a household with more than one person, take time to reconnect with them or even work on improving these relationships.
If you have neighbors, make sure to give them a wave “hello” when you see them or engage in a “six-feet-apart” conversation. You never know what someone else may be going through and a simple salutation could end up making a big difference in their day (and yours!).
- Support your community. One practical way to do this is by supporting local businesses.
Due to the downturn of the economy brought upon by COVID-19, businesses have been negatively impacted and many are at risk of losing their businesses completely. Therefore, during these unprecedented times, it is important to come together as a community. When supporting these businesses and buying their services, this one small action could cause a ripple effect and help make an even bigger impact on the lives of others.
By being aware of your mental health, utilizing the right resources and staying connected to others, you may find that healing and recovery are just around the corner.