The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on so many people all around the world. Whether you work from home now, with limited contact with your coworkers, or are an essential worker who spends their days on the front lines, dealing with people who may or may not be carrying the virus, your nerves are most likely frayed. The number of people who say that they have lingering depression or anxiety because of the outbreak has risen, which makes sense since their entire way of life has changed, and self-isolation has become the “new normal.”
For most adults, asking for help can be a challenge and it’s even tougher on children who may be suffering as well. So, in order to properly handle your family’s mental health during this trying time, you need to be aware of the symptoms of mental illness, as well as have a plan in place to treat the symptoms should they arise.
Lifestyle Changes Can Be Tough to Get Used To
Not only are more people staying at home and indoors, isolating themselves from friends, loved ones, and coworkers, but their free time pursuits have changed greatly as well. Thanks to moratoriums in many states, stores have limited shopping hours, making wandering around the mall or a department store a thing of the past. In addition, with curfews and warnings in effect, many just head to the grocery store once a week and consider that their social time – even though they must wear masks and stay six feet away from others. All of this puts a strain your psyche, and even the more hardcore introverts are now struggling to maintain a healthy mental state. It makes sense that a series of rapid changes, put into place for the good of society, has contributed to the rise in cases of depression and anxiety.
Sign of Mental Distress
The signs of mental distress in adults are typically easy to spot. They include:
- A lack of focus and mental clarity
- Feeling sleepy and rundown
- The inability to get out of bed
- Being on edge all day
- Frequent mood changes (going from anger to sadness very rapidly)
In children, the signs can look a bit different. As we know, children can’t express their thoughts and feelings like adults can, making it even more crucial that you pay attention to their behavior and look for changes, such as:
- Being more clingy than usual or suffering from separating anxiety
- Wetting the bed, despite having been potty trained for some time
- An increase in the frequency and severity of temper tantrums
- Complaining of stomachaches
- The inability to focus on schoolwork or activities that they formerly enjoyed
- Oversleeping or not being able to sleep at all
These are just a few of the symptoms to look for, but there are many others. What’s important here is that you pay close attention to your child’s behavior, so you can spot when they’re struggling and need your help.
What You Can Do
Since many doctor’s offices are following the CDC’s COVID-19 guidelines and are limiting in-person office visits, you’ll more than likely end up speaking with your doctor or your child’s pediatrician online or over the phone. Be honest about your feelings and which symptoms you’ve seen in your child, and explain how the pandemic has affected your entire family. Your general practitioner or pediatrician will more than likely send you to a specialist, either in adult or child psychology. It’s especially important to follow up by making this appointment, so you get the care that you and your family need in order to protect your family’s mental health and get through COVID-19 together.