Coronavirus infection has become a real challenge for the economy, health care system, scientific activity, and, of course, for a person. It has a strong influence on the mental condition of even healthy people.
According to experts, the coronavirus affects not only a person’s physical health but mental, causing stress, neuroses, and apathy. A continuous news flow, lockdown, and constant uncertainty provoke various mental disorders. The negative effect is observed even after the restrictive measures are lifted, and the countries return to their usual mode of life.
Covid-19 and Mental Health
Most scientific publications suggest that isolation can lead to various psychological consequences. They concern an increased level of anxiety, insomnia and emotional instability, psychosomatic, post-traumatic syndrome (PTSD), depression.
But when isolation has affected almost everyone on this planet, it felt a little different. The pandemic is a moment of historic loss: unemployment, lockdown, stagnation, hundreds of thousands of deaths. People feel depressed and notice depressive symptoms.
The epidemic and the restrictive measures taken during the quarantine have caused anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance. People are very worried about the political and social situation, sleep poorly, and have nightmares. They are constantly scrolling the news feed, reading posts, and the news is mostly depressing.
However, the self-isolation regime can’t be considered as the only cause of psychological problems. Much depends on individual characteristics, especially on how people have felt before the introduction of these special measures.
Because of the fear of being infected, people are in constant anxiety. They refuse to work, don’t let their children go anywhere, constantly use antiseptics. Such behavior destroys their lives. There is also a tendency towards disorder caused by the fear of foreigners arrived. Numerous people perceive immigrants as potential carriers of both the existing and the new strain of the virus.
Coronavirus and Addictions
Due to the pandemic and the constant stay at home, people began to spend more time in front of monitors. The results of numerous studies, as well as observations of psychiatrists and psychotherapists, confirm that alcohol consumption and tobacco use rates have increased during the pandemic.
- Coronavirus and Alcohol Addiction
During the COVID-19, alcohol consumption in the world didn’t decrease since people began to drink more often at home.
The problem isn’t that people have started drinking a glass of beer or wine at home that they used to drink in a pub or restaurant. The problem arises when one glass turns into a bottle.
It seems that the pandemic will never end, so people start to worry about how to live. Alcohol seems to be the best way to distract and relax from boredom, often in the first half of the day.
For people with mental and behavioral disorders associated with alcohol abuse, the Covid-19 and self-isolation are extremely difficult. A vicious circle: people take the stress of coronavirus infection, which increases their risk of relapse, while at the same time they lack the supportive factors that helped them stay sober. Therefore, if you see that your loved one needs help, immediately contact the Profound Addiction Treatment Center.
- Coronavirus and Drug Addiction
Here the situation is the same as with alcohol addiction, but with some exceptions. Many addicted people are trying to distract themselves from everyday problems not only with the help of alcohol but with medicines as well. During the lockdown, drug-addicted people are trying to cope with stress using such potent drugs as hallucinogens, as well as pain relievers based on marijuana.
However, the use of such strong drugs as heroin has declined in some countries due to strict measures and the inability to buy one more dose.
- Coronavirus and Other Addictions
During the pandemic, the world faced huge problems. Many have discovered a new side of their loved ones.
For instance, the time spent on the Internet and social networks has increased from 6 hours to 8-12 hours a day. The sales of video games and, accordingly, the prices for them have increased as well. In addition, online casinos have begun to develop rapidly. People go to gambling sites out of boredom and can’t stop losing big sums of money.
When a person is in a closed space for a long time, and he has a limited circle of communication, this will certainly affect his mental health. Even a few weeks of isolation can provoke heightened anxiety and various psychological states. And the longer a person is in quarantine, the higher the risk of developing stressful and post-traumatic symptoms. Therefore, try to engage in physical activity, be in the fresh air more often and talk to other people (social networks provide this opportunity). Stay safe!
A professional writer with over a decade of incessant writing skills. Her topics of interest and expertise range from health, nutrition and psychology.
