Coping with Anxiety and Loneliness during the Covid-19 Pandemic
By Faiza Khan
Newport Beach, CA
A simple proclamation that the past few weeks have been testing times for each and every global citizen would be an understatement. We are faced with the powerful veracity of this unfortunate situation through any interaction with the outside world while self-isolating ourselves in the safety of our own homes.
I had a different trajectory in mind for this week 's article but a two-line text from a friend unhinged my plans. She reached out to check-in on how we were doing but it ended with, “I feel like I am going crazy. Is it just me?” I wasn't really sure if it was a silent plea for help or just an assertion. Some people are introverted and not very adept at communicating their feelings with others. I personally am an introvert and usually do not share my internal thoughts with anyone unless I have a proven bond of trust with them. So it was understandable that perhaps my friend was trying to reach out in a cryptic way or was I just overthinking it all.
These are certainly very strange times and all textbook information we have acquired in the past about mental health, social interactions, and psychology seem to be “not applicable” presently. If you have not clued in yet, the federally mandated social distancing orders along with putting on face masks and gloves to get out of the house even to get groceries in the state of California do not indicate signs of a normal life.
As statistics pour in about the physical casualties there is no way to fathom the mental health issues arising from the aftermath of a pandemic with such massive impact. The effects are extensive and can silently creep up on anyone without much warning.
Sometimes it is hard to identify whether one is equipped to cope with anxiety and loneliness in the course of daily life, let alone trying to get a grip on these complex issues during the COVID-19. Any individual put in this situation could be self-isolating and social distancing for a variety of different reasons.
It could be they want to contribute to flattening the curve by following strict precautions to help prevent the spread of infection, to not expose their loved ones from outside viruses of any kind, or because they suspect exposure and are not showing symptoms, there could be a million reasons why people have intelligently elected to stay indoors. I give accolades to you all for doing so and maintaining this discipline.
Although these measures are for the greater good of the human race they come with a price, as one is unprepared for feelings of loneliness and anxiety associated with voluntary isolation of this kind. This is why it is very important to take care of mental health during times of decreased social interactions.
A 2017 study published in a Public Health journal investigated an association between social isolation, loneliness, poorer mental health, and an “all-cause mortality.” An all-cause mortality is used in reference to a disease or a harmful exposure, such as radiation or dangerous chemicals. It is typically expressed as the total number of deaths due to that condition during a specific time period aka present times. Reading this study while researching for the article almost seemed like a prophecy as the signs are all pertinent to this crisis. While those with chronic illness may already be familiar with what it's like to face long periods of time alone at home, or in a hospice, the average populace is used to getting out of the house daily. Retirees, stay-at-home moms, or work-from-home employees usually make outside trips to run errands or visit family and friends. With the enforcement of a nation-wide emergency all such normal activity comes to an unnatural halt and is suddenly extremely jarring to process.
The human mind is a beautiful complex phenomenon when it is not as busy as it should be by constantly staying indoors, not interacting with people outside the house starts to weave a web of anxiety and depression. Even when going out for the “essentials” bundled up in masks and protective clothing with the constant fear and guilt of getting exposed to the virus starts to create a stigma of a “cabin fever” style stress.
Instead of procrastinating with how best to get through this period of isolation and letting anxiety get the better of you, an easier way is to take initiative and put some quick measures in place. There are many traditional and non-traditional strategies to ensure cognitive well-being and good mental health for you and your loved ones. The one voted to be most effective within the materials I researched is distraction. Distraction as a strategy helps avoid pivoting around every little detail that is wrong and focus on more positive aspects. It involves finding ways to distract yourself with projects that keep your brain and body occupied, or finding ways to connect with others virtually without any physical contact via Face Time, social media, or other forms of communication.
Fortunately, being proactive about mental health can help to keep both your mind and body stronger. Some of us constantly try to battle with staying away from anything to do with “food” or “food-like” places in the house such as the pantry, fridge, and the kitchen to keep the unnecessary self-isolation weight gain. At the same time let us also pledge to keep ourselves and our loved ones mentally occupied and healthy in the next few weeks to come.
(Faiza Zia Khan holds a Master’s in Journalism degree from the University of British Columbia, Canada. She has collaborated with news media outlets including Global National and actively volunteers for several community investment projects for the Red Cross, United Way and the Breast Cancer Foundation)
