since exploding across the planet earlier this year, many arguments could easily be made that covid-19 has caused a definite uptick in stress, anxiety and even depression. one of the greatest unknowns of covid-19 is how it the virus interacts with other physical and psychological conditions.
many people may not realize that there are connections between physical and mental health. it’s not just the long hours of quarantine, but more subtly, how covid-19 combines with other pre-existing conditions to weaken patients’ psyche and sap energy.
understanding stress in a pandemic
stress can disrupt “business as usual” in the brain. recent studies have clarified how stress saps the ability to plan and how stress changes the way that certain brain cells operate. previous studies have shown that at times of great distress and upheaval, the brain can “shut down”, by not processing everything in front of us.
how a person responds to stress during the covid-19 pandemic can depend on his or her background, social support from family or friends, financial situation, health and emotional background, where a person lives and many other factors. the changes that can happen because of covid-19 and the ways in which efforts to curb the spread of the virus can affect anyone.
beyond covid-19: mental health struggles
according to the
world health organization
(who), the global pandemic is resulting in mental health struggles worldwide. “adapting to lifestyle changes… and managing the fear of contracting the virus and worry about people close to us who are particularly vulnerable, are challenging for all of us,” who notes.
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