COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Psychological Effects

The coronavirus pandemic has taken over our day-to-day routine, impacting the way we think about our world and evoking intense and overwhelming feelings. The current pandemic is not only a health issue but has started affecting our global economy, local infrastructures, education and the world of work.

Along with all of these disruptions and needed adjustments, the Covid-19 pandemic has also had a psychological impact on us, our families, colleagues and friends. Based on the short period of time the coronavirus has spread and the constant media coverage we are exposed to, for many it is a scary, uncertain time which brings about recurring moments of panic and fear.

Common psychological effects which are being experienced at this time include:

• Anxiety and panic – over the past few months many people have had to come to terms with the reality of this pandemic; that it spreads quickly and that there is yet to be a vaccine developed to curb it. As a result, there is a constant atmosphere of uncertainty and panic, with people panic-buying, taking extreme precautionary measures and fuelling the fear of the unknown
  
• Depressive feelings – going through a pandemic like this is lifechanging, and not all lifechanging events are positive. Therefore, some people may feel quite sad about what is happening in the world; especially as we start to hear of incidences about xenophobia and stigma
• Feelings of helplessness – when something like this happens it can induce feelings of helplessness because there are limited things that we can do to control the situation
• Feelings of hopelessness – while a sense of hopelessness is normal and expected, this can be worsened by fake news, inaccurate facts and consistent over-exposure to information which fuels fear and panic
• Changes in habits – while your daily routine may be affected by the impact of Covid-19, this can also affect natural habits such as your sleeping and appetite (e.g. sleeping too much/too little or eating too much/too little)

Ways to manage during this time and look after your mental health:

• Try not to panic – while this is a serious situation, panicking will not help, but will actually make things worse. Remain calm by understanding what is happening around you, what officials say about managing in this situation and on making sure you have the information you need
• Stay informed and try not to make assumptions – keep up to date with what is going on but do not obsess over numbers and pieces of information which are not relevant to you; rather limit what you expose yourself to in a healthy way. There is extensive news coverage on the impact of the coronavirus worldwide so avoid speculation and only rely on reputable sources of information
• Adapt to your new routine by making it as enjoyable as you can – it will take some time to get used to doing things differently but it doesn’t have to be a negative process. Engage in healthy distractions, such as reading a light-hearted book or watching a funny movie
• Practice social distancing but stay connected – due to the nature of the virus, social distancing is an important measure we have been advised of. However, this also means that we need to work harder to remain connected to our loved ones. Phone calls, video calls and social media are good ways of staying in touch with each other
• Stay healthy – ensure you take care of your physical health as well; this will buffer the impact of any mental stress and will ensure your immune system is not affected by the changes going on around you. Go for a walk, take deep breaths, meditate, practise mindfulness and make sure you rest.
• Talk to your children – be open and honest but do not expose them to scary or age-inappropriate information which they may find difficult to understand and process. Reassure them that they are safe and help them deal with confusing thoughts or stressful feelings.
• If you are struggling with consistently overwhelming thoughts and feelings, speak to a professional who can help you to manage with this
• Follow guidelines and be sensible – in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus we need to all take measures which will keep us safe and healthy; we are all responsible for this, not just some people. Practice good hygiene and stay away from places where you feel you may be at risk of unhealthy hygiene measures
• Remember, if you feel unwell – seek medical assistance and try to maintain your distance from others, especially vulnerable individuals (e.g. the elderly, babies and children, those with chronic illnesses)

While health authorities worldwide are working very hard to find a vaccine to cure and limit the severity of Covid-19, we can all play a part in protecting ourselves and others through this incredibly challenging time.

Reabetsoe Buys | Counselling Psychologist