Depression and anxiety a reality under Covid
We are social beings and something as simple as a hug (which we are deprived of due to social distancing) does wonders for our emotional and psychological well-being.
Don’t be too hard on yourself under the Covid-19 pandemic and don’t try to accomplish all the things you would under “normal” circumstances.
This was the message from Nandhi du Plooy, a local clinical psychologist.
“I find that many people are hard on themselves and strive to perform and accomplish all they would under ‘normal’ circumstances.
“ I have to remind them that there is nothing ‘normal’ about our current circumstances, or in any way under their control,” said Du Plooy.
According to her, the current global crisis under Covid-19 has put people under immense pressure and contributed to general depression and anxiety.
Depression and anxiety are two very different forms of mental distress.
However, both could leave the person suffering from them feeling debilitated and out of control.
“There are numerous factors that could lead to depression, ranging from genetic factors, to interpersonal factors, to losing someone or something important to you, and everything in-between,” Du Plooy said.
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“I feel the need to mention that some people are more prone to experience depressive symptoms than others. Also, a person’s symptoms may not always be obvious to others. The same is true for anxiety and stress,” she said.
“It is immensely difficult to be confined to your home with the same people for months on end, no matter how much you may love them.
“We are social beings and something as simple as a hug (which we are deprived of due to social distancing) does wonders for our emotional and psychological well-being.
“People have also been deprived of attending religious gatherings, which would in the past have provided a very important sense of comfort and support system to them, especially in times of distress,” she said.
“Some people once again become debilitated and others may experience them as being excessively needy. This could lead to much interpersonal conflict.
She said others might however go into “overdrive” and do more than they usually would.
“The danger for these people is that despite the emotional and psychological difficulties they are facing, they continue to push on, keeping busy at the expense of their own well-being. The end-result being burnout.
“It is important to remember that you can never completely control anything or anyone, except yourself. Your self-control is something that nobody could ever take from you.
Du Plooy said “once you master this, which could be difficult and usually requires some form of therapeutic intervention, it makes it easier to maintain your peace”.
“Our lives consist of five basic elements that must be taken care of if we are to experience a healthy, happy life. Each part needs to be taken care of. Focusing either too much or too little on a certain element could be unhealthy. It is very important to find a balance so each element of our lives is nurtured.”
Doctor Amanda Streicher, social worker in private clinical practice, said that Covid-19 has had a profound and long-term effect on individuals, marriages, families, the work situation, finances, religious practice, social life, health, relationships and especially people’s state of mind.
“In clinical practice, the increasing consequences of this pandemic are visible daily, especially with the advent of the new and unpredictable variant of the virus,” Streicher said.
“Individuals struggle daily with the limitations and consequences of the pandemic. Not only has a previous life routine been seriously disrupted, but a universal anxiety occurs: ‘Are this cough, my sore throat, my fatigue perhaps signs of the virus? Do I have a fever? Aren’t these people near me sick?’
“People with pre-existing mental problems such as depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive symptoms and others suffer especially because these mental problems increase in intensity,” said Streicher.
She added that marriages and families are also being challenged by the disruptive effects of the pandemic.
“Employees and employers are now often required to work from home, while others have a loss of job or income.
“Children experience a loss of the routine of going to school and interacting with teachers and peers, a loss of physical contact and the excitement and social movement with sports and cultural practice,” she said.
Streicher said children often felt isolated and lonely.
“It can certainly be said that no human being on earth has been unaffected by the pandemic. Some of these consequences such as anxiety, worry and uncertainty are certainly human and normal.
“However, when these consequences have a significant effect on daily functioning and mood, help should be sought.”
Streicher listed the following symptoms to look out for:
– a change in the sleep pattern (for example, too much or too little),
– decreased appetite or – increase,
– decrease in energy, concentration, memory and attention,
– feelings of worthlessness and uselessness,
– increased irritation or listlessness,
– a severe decrease in interests and pleasure and death-related thoughts.
“Covid-19 brought extensive devastation to the world, but there were also benefits. Spouses and family members got to know each other again and built and repaired relationships, people discovered other skills and abilities in themselves when their work doors closed.
“Thus new opportunities were exploited, while nature also regained a rest and recovered in many areas,” concluded Streicher.
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