Coping with Covid-19 and Mental Health
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a new disease and what could happen can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Public health actions, such as social distancing, can make people feel isolated and lonely and can increase stress and anxiety. However, these actions are necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Coping with stress in a healthy way will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger.
Stress during an
infectious disease outbreak can sometimes cause the following:
· Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones,
your financial situation or job, or loss of support services you rely on.
·
Changes in sleep or eating patterns.
·
Difficulty sleeping or concentrating.
·
Worsening of chronic health problems.
·
Worsening of mental health conditions.
· Increased use of tobacco, and/or alcohol and other substances.
Take care of
yourself and your community
Taking
care of your friends and your family can be a stress reliever, but it should be
balanced with care for yourself. Helping others cope with their stress, such as by
providing social support, can also make your community stronger. During times
of increased social distancing, people can still maintain social connections
and care for their mental health. Phone calls or video chats can help you and
your loved ones feel socially connected, less lonely, or isolated.
Healthy ways to cope with stress
·
Know what to do if you are sick and are concerned about COVID-19. Contact a health professional before
you start any self-treatment for COVID-19.
·
Know where and how to get treatment and other support services and resources,
including counseling or therapy (in person or through telehealth services).
·
Take care of your emotional health. Taking care of your emotional health will help you think clearly and
react to the urgent needs to protect yourself and your family.
·
Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including those on social media.
Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.
·
Take care of your body.
o Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate.
o Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals
o
Avoid excessive alcohol and drug use.
·
Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.
·
Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are
feeling.
·
Connect with your community- or faith-based organizations. While social distancing measures are
in place, consider connecting online, through social media, or by phone or
mail.
Know the facts to help reduce stress
Knowing the facts
about COVID-19 and stopping the spread of rumors can help reduce stress and stigma. Understanding the risk to yourself and people you
care about can help you connect with others and make an outbreak less
stressful.
Take care of your mental health an important part of overall health and
wellbeing. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It may also affect how we
handle stress, relate to others, and make choices during an emergency.
People with
pre-existing mental health conditions or substance use disorders may be
particularly vulnerable in an emergency. Mental health conditions (such as depression,
anxiety, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia) affect a person’s thinking,
feeling, mood or behavior in a way that influences their ability to relate to
others and function each day. These conditions may be situational (short-term)
or long-lasting (chronic). People with preexisting mental health conditions
should continue with their treatment and be aware of new or worsening symptoms.
If you think you have new or worse symptoms, call your healthcare provider.
Call your healthcare provider if stress gets in the way of your daily activities for several days in a row. Free and confidential resources can also help you or a loved one connect with a skilled, trained counselor in your area.
Recovering from COVID-19 or ending home
isolation
It can be stressful
to be separated from others if you have or were exposed to COVID-19. Each
person ending a period of home isolation may feel differently about it.
Emotional reactions
may include:
·
Mixed emotions, including relief.
·
Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones.
·
Stress from the experience of having COVID-19 and monitoring yourself,
or being monitored by others.
·
Sadness, anger, or frustration because friends or loved ones have fears
of getting the disease from you, even though you are cleared to be around
others.
·
Guilt about not being able to perform normal work or parenting duties
while you had COVID-19.
·
Worry about getting re-infected or sick again even though you’ve already
had COVID-19.
·
Other emotional or mental health changes.
· Children may also feel upset or have other strong emotions if they, or someone they know, has COVID-19, even if they are now better and able to be around others again.
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