Coping Mental Health Challenges during Covid-19 in California
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Introduction
The Covid-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and the global disruption of the economy. There has been a significant increase in the rates of stress, anxiety, and depression globally with the advent of COVID-19 (Yanping et al., 2020). The pandemic has forced people to stay indoors with minimal movements and social interactions, which in turn have a negative effect on physical and mental health. Most people have lost their jobs others with half-pay salaries increase stress level on how they are to survive the days ahead. Fear has become part and parcel of their daily lives as they question if they might be infected or infect their loved ones (Interview # 2 Thursday, October 22, 2020, 2:00 pm Zoom Call). As a parent, my children always come first to me, but then again, my children will be alone if I get sick and die. Their safety depends on mine, so I do have concerns about my safety.).
The various news about Covid-19 has created more fears and anxiety as the virus’s resultant death statistics keep rising with less successful vaccine trials. The news is exhausting to most people, especially with the lockdown, and most people are just indoors (Interview 6 Monday, October 26, 2020, 1:30 pm Zoom Call). Everyone was talking about COVID and its consequences, especially our News Channels, which were affecting badly. I wish people can change the topic that helps to be happy.
Coping Strategies
Physical Activity
The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in lockdown, which means people are spending most of their time indoors and sitting. Exercise eases the muscles, improves blood circulation and muscle activity is improved. Regular physical exercise reduces the risk of depression and delays the onset of dementia. Under normal stressful situations, most people would exercise to relieve their stress levels and refresh. Aerobics and gymnastics were an essential routine in managing stress and anxiety (Holshue et al. 2020). With the lockdown, accessing the gym has been a challenge to most people, especially those who pay and visit Gym facilities.
Healthy Diet
A healthy diet helps improve the body’s immune system. Good nutrition improves our body’s ability to prevent, fight, and recover from infection. A healthy diet is, therefore, essential during the Covid-19 pandemic. With job loss and salary cuts, it is difficult for some people to access a healthy diet as they try to manage the little they have (Bhattacharjee, & Acharya, 2020). This increases their chances of suffering from other illnesses as well as Covid-19 due to a decreased immune system.
Healthy Parenting
The lockdown, school closures, social distancing, and quarantines have resulted in the children being more anxious, uncertain, and bored as they may be fearful over the impact of Covid-19 over their families. Their parents have a challenge of keeping their minds engaged and focused at all times (Torales et al. 2020). This may result in unhealthy patterns of lifestyle, such as isolation and withdrawal, which, in turn, result in depression.
Mental Health Conditions
Mood disorders
The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in significant changes in people’s lifestyles, especially with social gatherings and lockdown restrictions. This may, in turn, result in people’s mood changes over time (Torales et al.2020). Such mood disorders may present themselves in a depressed mood, irregular appetite changes, diminished interest, pleasure, or even insomnia. Social isolation, financial hardship, and a depressive home environment may result in such disorders. The absence of social life affected mental health badly and caused depression and mood swing problems (Interview 7 Tuesday, October 27, 2020, 2:00 pm Zoom Call).
Post-Traumatic Stress
A direct experience or an exposure to an experience that is threatening to death, injury, or violence may expose one to post-traumatic stress Viron & Stern, 2010). The statistics by the media and news about Covid-19 deaths and infection or even knowing a person who is infected may results in increased post-traumatic stress disorders among people (Interview # 8 Thursday, October 29, 2020, 2:00 pm Zoom Call). News channels provided information about COVID effects and how we can remain safe from COVID all day. That was helping a lot. I was hoping any mind fresh program may come on television so that the mind can be diverted).
Substance Abuse
Substance abuse and addictive disorders are common during challenging times in life. The experience of job loss and salary cuts results in desperation in life with no hope for the future. The seek and usage of drugs to distract oneself from Covid-19 reality results in an increased risk of death from drug abuse or even suicide (Kim et al., 2019). Coronavirus pandemic could push suicide, drug death as high as 150k, study says, USA Today, May 8, 2020.
Conclusion
The effects of Covid-19 have imparted on the whole world, which is detrimental to both the infected and uninfected. Mental Illnesses are on the verge of the world population with increases in Covid-19 related cases and news as each day goes by. Therefore, it is critical to observe the coping strategies presented by the WHO and other related studies.
References
Bhattacharjee, B., & Acharya, T. (2020). The COVID-19 Pandemic and its Effect on Mental Health in USA–A Review with Some Coping Strategies. Psychiatric Quarterly, 1-11.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-41964-x.
Holshue, M. L., DeBolt, C., Lindquist, S., Lofy, K. H., Wiesman, J., Bruce, H., … & Diaz, G. (2020). First case of 2019 novel coronavirus in the United States. New England Journal of Medicine.
Kim, Y. G., Moon, H., Kim, S. Y., Lee, Y. H., Jeong, D. W., Kim, K., … & Park, H. C. (2019). Inevitable isolation and the change of stress markers in hemodialysis patients during the 2015 MERS-CoV outbreak in Korea. Scientific reports, 9(1), 1-10.
Ornell F, Schuch JB, Sordi AO, Kessler FHP. “Pandemic fear” and COVID-19: mental health burden and strategies. Braz J Psychiatr. 2020;42(3):232–5.
Torales, J., O’Higgins, M., Castaldelli-Maia, J. M., & Ventriglio, A. (2020). The outbreak of COVID-19 coronavirus and its impact on global mental health. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 0020764020915212.
Viron, M. J., & Stern, T. A. (2010). The impact of serious mental illness on health and healthcare. Psychosomatics, 51(6), 458-465.
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