How Covid Affected Mental Health

2020 was known as being a terrible year for the whole world due to the COvid-19 virus doing its rounds and forcing all of us to be locked inside. This not only affected some of our jobs, our social lives, but it also took a hit to our mental health. So much so that it has been estimated that anxiety and depression went up by over 40 percent. And the effects of the chaos surrounding the virus during and after lockdown can still be felt today. So, how can we cope? What can we do? Well, let’s find out.

Are People Stressed Still? And How Can You Tell

Stress can lead to anxiety which can make its way to depression. Therefore, telling if someone is stressed is the first step in helping them. Stress occurs when the body reacts to something that is not suited to it, something that is bad or unpleasant. Anxiety is the reaction to stress. Therefore, when something bad happens people are already hit by two unwanted, yet powerful emotions. Many people, almost everyone, felt stressed, and anxious last year and some still have traces of it to this day.

The way to tell if someone is stressed is by noticing how they act. Is there a different appetite? Are they eating too much or too little? Do they seem tired a lot like their energy bar has evaporated? Have they lost interest in their passion and interests? Does it seem as if they lose focus quickly and their decision-making skills are gone? There is a strong chance that they are stressed, or heading down to depression. Another indication for stress is that sleeping is all over the place. This is due to nightmares, or sleep schedules that do not make sense.

Another fairly clear sign is over-consumption of either alcohol or cigarettes. Anxiety and stress can lead to many issues such as the above symptoms. As well as side effects like skin rashes, headaches, stomach pains, and other parts of the body being in pain. If you are feeling this, or you noticed a change in yourself, then you should speak to a professional. If you suspect that your friend has these signs then you may want to plant the idea that they seek help.

Coping

One of the most important things that you and anyone else can do to cope with these feelings of stress and anxiety is to relax. While this can be easier said than done, it is true. And, there are ways to achieve relaxation. Such as cutting down your news watching time. The news is still reporting Covid-19 cases and this can drag the energy out of you, replacing it with tension. It is good to be informed but not all the time. Therefore, taking a break can be great for your mental health. And this also includes taking a short break from social media, certainly if your friends are talking about Covid regularly. Stretching and deep breaths in the form of meditation can also help add relaxation to your and other lives.

Another important aspect of coping is to eat healthily. This means to have well-balanced meals as well as exercise. Plus, avoiding alcohol and cigarettes, or cutting down, can also help out a lot. And sleeping is also a great way to relax.

You can also do something that you enjoy to escape the world. Plus, checking in on friends is also beneficial to you as well as them. With the internet, one is able to reach out and chat with friends from all around the world. This means that you can show them that you care. You can use chat, voice chat, and even video. Your topics of discussion can be rubbish, the past, or worries about the future.

The above points should help you and those around you cope with anxiety and stress to decrease depression. However, the best thing you can do is to talk to a professional. Asking for help is always good.