How is Covid-19 affecting me and my family’s mental health? (author: Adrian Bosch, Clinical Psychologist, Scarborough Physio and Health)
 
With the recent “second wave” in Victoria and increasing news about people’s impacted mental health, despite our best efforts to avoid the fatigue of hearing about and discussing Covid-19 it remains in our lives. As such I thought I would put down a few observations from a private practice perspective. For over a decade now of private practice I cannot think of a time when so many of my clients were all in one way or another impacted by a similar crisis. I was working in the Employee Wellness environment over the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), but still would not equate the level of “common-thread” uncertainty that I have experienced over the past few months.
Part of the uniqueness of this crisis is the global impact of it. And not just adults, children and teenagers too. I see this in the issues that are in some way not only common amongst my clients, but also my friends, my family, my colleagues, and even myself. About one month into our initial “lockdown” (I use the term loosely as other places around the world had it worse, and currently our Victorian friends are experiencing far more challenging times) I noticed an incredible fatigue within myself. I was working the same hours (thankfully) that I am more than accustomed to and fit for, but nonetheless was fatigued and more irritable (at least not with my clients). I noticed that for the first time in my life there was such a consistency in the nature of problems that I treated, that I had not quite experienced before. I liken it to exercising the same muscle over and over till it fatigues, versus a variety of exercises that spread the workload around the body. Usually there is enough variety in presenting problems that I address so as not to fatigue my brain with one singular focus. But enough about me.
I have noticed that although the Covid-19 theme is prevalent and its impact upon our mental health cannot be denied or ignored, the impact itself is highly variable. Within this I caution that although the impact upon you may vary from what you see within friends, family, colleagues, partners, or hear on the news, it remains important to be mindful to the impact upon you and your own stress. Often people highlight being stressed but are not sure whether to worry about it or not, whether to seek help or not, or whether it is an indication of their own lack of resilience or failure if they do. We need to continue destigmatising accessing support as means of managing our own mental health. Never has self-care and mental health awareness been more important than now. I don’t by any means minimise the serious health impact of the virus itself for those who have contracted it, but although many of us may escape infection, none of us are immune to the societal and global impact.
First it is important to recognise that at stages during Covid-19 we have all lost access to activities that are excellent outlets for stress. Gyms closed, sporting events and clubs were shut down, we got limited in terms of being able to go on vacation, and significantly we were banned from socialising, as well as (previously) socially accepted forms of physical contact (handshakes and hugs). Now “social distancing” is one of the most important weapons in our war against Covid-19, so I will state directly that I endorse this action and practice it daily (I do miss those handshakes). Although we’ve gained back many of our social interactions, social distancing still dictates it is not quite as it once was. And with the real-time evidence of the Victorian situation and how quickly this virus can get on top of us, we still maintain the apprehension and anxiety of possible future lockdowns. The goal for our mental health is not to let “social distancing” become social isolation. So, wherever you can keep those connections do so (within State and Federal guidelines), reconnect with long-lost friends, use video-calls, and if you are not technologically inclined – learn! Covid-19 will be with us for a while. Keep the habits you can and reengage with those that slipped during lockdown.
Secondly, we should not ignore the personal stress and traumas associated to Covid-19 lockdown. In particular grief over losses. Many people lost jobs together with the uncertainty of when they could become gainfully employed again. But even for those who did not lose jobs, there have been degrees of loss of job security. I have seen a form of “survivor guilt” for partners who managed to keep their jobs while their significant other was stood down. We sit with the uncertainty of what future lockdowns could bring. Uncertainty is a concept frequently associated to experienced stress, and if prolonged can lead to a number of mental health impacts. There are the legitimate fears of getting sick. Even non-Covid illness can impact a whole social network (family or colleagues) while we get tested and need to go into isolation while awaiting results. These threats loom daily, even if they are not in the forefront of our mind and conversation. Don’t minimise the impact on yourself and be mindful of the impact on your loved ones.
So, what should we do? Everybody has bad days, but when is it a problem? Firstly, if it is a significant change in your (or loved ones) behaviour or emotional state, and persists for weeks to months, don’t ignore! There can be pervasive feelings of low mood, low energy, unusual fatigue, poor drive and motivation, difficulties with concentration, focus and attention. You (or loved ones) could be more irritable, have difficulty controlling emotions, show loss of interest in activities that were previously enjoyed. There may be a variety of negative outlooks on life, feelings of resentment, grief and loss, and even guilt in its variety of forms.
In times when our basic survival (earn a living, keep a roof over our head, put food on the table) is at the forefront of our concerns it can be easy to put our wellbeing (health and mental health) further down the priority list. Make sure you find time to prioritise yourself and wellbeing. Encourage your loved ones to do the same. And if there are pervasive patterns of change, get assistance. See your GP and talk about options.
Prioritise mental health. Avoid shame and stigma. Support others. We’re all in this together.
 
To make an appointment with our new Clinical Psychologist Adrian Bosch please call the clinic on 0738801649