How COVID-19 Impacts Mental Health & How To Find Relief

The fear and impact that COVID-19 has had on daily life across the world is unlike anything most of us have dealt with in our lifetimes. The pandemic created anxiety and raised questions about the future as many people found themselves stuck at home, without jobs and with a family they now had to care for 24/7. The isolation of working from home, the feeling of being stuck with nowhere to go and the separation from loved ones led to anxiety and stress for many.

Read how COVID-19 impacts mental health and how to find relief.

 

COVID-19 Related Anxiety and Stress

The constant stress from thinking about the virus as well as the anxiety about how to keep you and your loved ones safe is a big burden. Anxiety and stress from COVID-19 can affect every aspect of your life: from your relationship with your partner and children to your relationships with friends and coworkers, to workplace struggles (whether you’re in the office or not).

At Home

When the virus first started to crop up in the United States, the country went into lockdown mode. Everyone who was used to waking up every morning and following a certain routine suddenly found themselves unsure of what to do or how to act. Office buildings shut down and schools closed early, leaving many with a lot more free time on their hands than they were used to.

It’s only natural that the increased time spent at home without the reprieve of work or weekends spent traveling or with friends began to wear on people, and the effects are still being felt months later. Feeling stuck in one place, or like you can’t leave your home, can have many negative effects on mental health.

Even things as simple as food became a burden due to COVID-19. It was no longer safe to go inside restaurants and many people were limiting their grocery shopping so as not to be exposed to the virus. Having to plan meals for weeks at a time at home can be a big strain on a person, especially if you’re used to the assistance of takeout or delivery.

Many parents were also feeling the burden of suddenly having to take on a more active role in their child’s education. Online learning became a solution for many school districts, placing stress on teachers, students and parents as they struggle to navigate the “new normal.”

At The Workplace

Those whose employers couldn’t shut down the office or who decided not to, the workplace still became a different place during COVID-19. Social distancing and staggered schedules made it hard to feel connected to coworkers. And the fear of bringing the virus home, despite all efforts of hand washing and mask wearing, crept in every day.

Those who transitioned to work from home were also in for a big adjustment. From digital meetings to juggling kid routines to finding time to take care of your own personal needs, working from home isn’t the cake walk it can seem at first glance. Achieving a work and personal life balance is difficult when you’re literally working from the couch: it’s easy to get stuck working long hours or not be able to put work away and focus on family when work and home become the same place.

And for those much less fortunate who lost their jobs due to the pandemic, the situation became even more stressful. Financial stress can be a huge factor in anxiety and depression. Not knowing where your next paycheck will come from or if you’ll be able to afford next month’s rent can take a dramatic toll on your mental health and the mental health of your family members.

With Relationships

COVID-19 also puts a strain on relationships. What seemed at first a great chance to spend time with family and reconnect with your spouse quickly turned into cabin fever for many. Sure, you love your kids, but spending time with them 24/7 with no breaks can be draining for any parent. Isolation is also hard on couples, whether they’ve been together for three months or three decades. The little things that annoy you about the other person seem amplified, and you start to long for the time you used to spend away from each other at work or with friends.

The virus also makes it difficult to see extended family members and friends. If you’re used to having a close relationship with your elderly mother and seeing her on a regular basis, suddenly not being able to see her in person or give her a hug can certainly produce anxiety and stress, even though you know it’s for her health and safety. The same is true for friends. The temptation to go out for drinks with a group of your best buds can sometimes seem overwhelmingly strong, especially when you’re itching to get out of the house and away from your family. But the pandemic puts a damper on any plans for get-togethers any time soon, and the isolation can make you feel like you’re truly alone.

On a Personal Level

And while there is so much about the situation that you can’t control, every individual had to decide what their response to the pandemic would be and decide where they stand on the issue. Like many things in life, whether or not individuals take precautions against the virus in their everyday lives became a matter of personal choice, and a lot of confusion and guilt can result from having to make that choice. It’s not easy to make decisions on what’s best for you and your family while hearing conflicting arguments for and against shutting down restaurants or whether mandating personal protective equipment is legal. As always, it’s important to remember that you can only do what you believe is best using the information you have at the time.