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Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) – With progress in efforts for ‘Covid-19’ vaccines and predictions about when the world will receive them, there appears to be light at the end of the long and horrific epidemic tunnel .
And the physical risks being better managed with vaccines, the psychological impact of the epidemic that does not go away probably will be.
“The physical aspects of the pandemic are really visible. We have shortages of supplies, economic pressures and fear of disease, and all of our routines are disrupted, but there is a real sadness in everything,” said Lisa Carlson , former direct president of the American Public Health Association and executive director of Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. this”.
“We don’t have a vaccine for our mental health like we do for our physical health,” Carlson added. “So it will take longer to come out of these challenges.”
Based on the psychological struggles that have suffered so much this year, these are the issues mental health professionals expect to emerge in 2021.
Fatigue and stability
Life was stressful before the pandemic, but new challenges have contributed to further losses. Virtual home schooling, financial hardship, distance working, tracking new information, and dealing with illness and death make life more difficult.
It is also the isolation that can lead to the feeling of loneliness that plagues people of all ages. Many children and adolescents have lost important opportunities for social development.
Carlson said stress management is key to getting relief from the pandemic, and it’s getting back to basics. And staying safe outside and around trees can improve your overall health. And when you can, take the time to relax and disconnect from the news.
She added that focusing on “the basics of sleep, eating healthy meals, moving around all day and spending time with pets and loved ones” will be very important, explaining, “Taking care of yourself and others should be at the center of everyone’s attention in 2021 “.
The epidemic is affecting sleep patterns
Dr Raj Dasgupta, pulmonologist and sleep physician and assistant professor of clinical medicine at the “Keck” School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, said spending more time at home means more naps for some, like the weird “epidemic dream” that people have been talking about this year It’s more likely to happen.
Stress, shocks and new challenges are other factors that lead to sleep disturbances. People on the front lines of health care, who have witnessed death and those stranded on cruise ships, can suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder which can lead to insomnia and nightmares. “There are things etched in your mind,” Dasgupta said.
“A lot of people have gained weight. Weight has always been a risk factor when we talk about things like sleep apnea,” Dasgupta added.
Because the quality of sleep is linked to mental health, getting enough sunlight for a normal circadian rhythm, developing a sleep routine, and practicing relaxation techniques is critical in 2021.
Some troubles grew up in isolation
Without support and accountability, some people’s recovery from eating and substance abuse disorders has stalled.
The “group trauma” that people experience “contributes to an increase in anxiety, depression and other mental health factors commonly associated with eating disorders,” said Chelsea Croningold, director of communications at the National Eating Disorders Association.
The challenges included the anxiety of spending time in a nurturing environment and difficulty finding privacy for telehealth sessions and other virtual supports. Some people with eating disorders also have an increase in symptoms.
“Not only do eating disorders increase in isolation,” Croningold said. “There is also additional anxiety and guilt over the possibility of running out of food and / or having too much food at any one time.”
The rate of opioid dependent drugs has increased during the pandemic, and rates of substance use disorders may increase as the epidemic continues.
We do not face these risks in the same way
For many, work is another source of psychological challenge.
People who cannot work from home, cannot avoid public transport, or do not have the ability to store food, can deal an additional blow to their psychological stability. Some of the essentials needed to support mental health are associated with employment, Carlson said, so losing a job could also mean losing health insurance, child care, or paid sick leave. .
“Some studies have found a significant increase in depression, especially in Asians,” said Dr. Tina Ching, chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati and director of the Children’s Research Foundation of Cincinnati.
Asian Americans and Chinese Americans have reported experiencing negative mental health symptoms due to racism associated with the outbreak.
And frontline workers are another inevitable group in the pandemic. Limited personal protective equipment, long working days, illness and death of patients and colleagues, exposure to the coronavirus and home shutdown have all weakened many healthcare professionals.
And for people who suffered from anxiety and depression before the pandemic, they experienced levels of uncertainty, fear and pain. Excessive hand washing and concerns about contamination can be features of OCD now and in the future.
He is no longer infected, but he is still sick
Carriers for long periods are people who have not fully recovered from “Covid-19” after weeks or even months of symptoms. In addition to the respiratory and nervous effects that some people suffer from long after their infection with the coronavirus, the psychological effects have also persisted.
While concerns about psychological distress during the pandemic have mainly focused on anxiety and quarantine measures, one study said “a second wave of mental illness from the viral illness could be imminent.”
Things are a source of optimism
The psychological burden of the pandemic has facilitated more honesty and compassion for mental health, which is essential in breaking down the stigma that prevents some people from seeking help.
One advantage is that more and more people are asking for help or serving others.
And some people have found solace in telehealth services, a growing trend to receive care that may be more accessible.
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