The ongoing impact of COVID-19 on mental health
I wrote about the initial effects of the pandemic on mental health 6 months ago - during the initial shock and upward swing of things.
This post is a very short one, and it’s just to say: if you’re still struggling or not feeling your normal self, you’re not alone. We’ve been a bit luckier than our Victorian neighbours in terms of avoiding (thus far) further months in isolation. Nevertheless, in my personal and clinical experience, it’s clear to me that the effects are ongoing. Some of the concerns or struggles I’ve noticed include:
Anxiety related to ongoing financial uncertainty - this effects everyone, from those who’ve lost their jobs to those trying plan big steps like a child, house purchase, or retirement.
Complications in the already painful grieving process - death is hard enough, and strict number limitations for funerals cause extra angst.
Frustration and sadness related to the unfairness of a missed graduation, formal, significant birthday, or wedding.
Frustration and sadness, too, around cancelled holidays or gap years - with no chance to reschedule, as yet.
Expectant mums and others going into hospital, who can’t have visitors and crucial support in the ways they usually would.
Strain on live-in relationships due to limited opportunities to have a break/miss each other.
Motivation and energy to complete work tasks flagging, particularly for those trying to work from home. Even more so for parents who’ve no longer been able to access childcare.
Feelings of loneliness.
A general sense of malaise - hard to put your finger on, but a restlessness or dissatisfied feeling that I think might come from the trapped-ness which, for now, seems to stretch unendingly into the future.
If any of the above issues apply to you, that’s understandable. No need to beat yourself up. Sure, someone else may “have it worse,” but your own experience of something not being right in you is made no less valid by this. It will end. But for now, try to notice your experience; do your best to make space for whatever emotion comes up; figure out how best to ride out the discomfort of it all; and talk to someone about where you’re at.
A note: There’s a wave of research happening right now looking at the mental health landscape being created by the pandemic, and down the track I’ll be able to formulate a more empirically-driven list - a bit more reliable than my own anecdotal one here. We’ll see findings published in the coming months and years.