The Pandemic Has Worsened Anxiety, Depression, Impulsivity, And Mindfulness

What else could this pandemic possibly bring?

This pandemic has been extremely challenging for many people. Have to go through loneliness and the challenges of watching the news. Being bombarded by negativity at every turn this past year. It is hard to be mindful when there is so much going on in the world taking up our attention.

It makes it hard to focus on oneself when there is so much going on with the world around us. It has also made it difficult for people to see one another, leading to depression in many people. They were thrown out of their daily routines, and that can exasperate anxiety in people as well.

Children

The children have been affected by this pandemic so much from being pulled out of school. To schooling online, many are finding it difficult to transition.

“School activities are also responsible for providing structure and routine to children and adolescents’ daily lives, and their interruption.”

US National Library Of Medicine

On top of the trauma that they have felt from being thrown around with school, they have also had to listen to money problems and feel stress from their parents. Although parents try to protect their kids from what is going on, kids have more perspective than they seem.

They have a great sense of their parents’ body language and understand when things are tense and challenging. Children also are generally exposed to a gym class or extra circular activities where they regularly exercise. However, many were told to stay inside with the pandemic, leading to children getting less exercise than they would normally. Exercise can be great for good mental health.

According to the US National Library Of Medicine,

“Regular physical exercise associated with less depression and anxiety cases [16] and parents considered it the second most effective action to mitigate children’s (3–18 years-olds) psychological burden during the quarantine.”

Adults

The pandemic has been especially difficult on adults. It has been challenging to teach the children that you may have. After all, you did not sign up to be a teacher. That is why you do not home school in the first place. Not only that, though, staying home is terrible for our mental health. Those that already had mental health diagnoses were very likely to have worsening mental health.

“Participants who reported at least one mental health diagnosis reported significantly higher anxiety, depression, impulsivity, and reduced mindfulness, including cannabis use and worsened eating habits.”

US National Library of Medicine

This pandemic has affected so many, not only with the deaths but the being stuck at home. The loneliness that people are feeling and the way it is affecting mental health are atrocious. Doctors and nurses have had it even worse; read more about it in my story here.

Trying to stay as mentally healthy as you can is vital so we can all get through this pandemic. It has been a long year, and who knows how much longer this will be going on. Take the time to yourself; it is okay; it has been a challenging year. It is okay to not be in the best headspace as long as you are working on it. On doing what you can to break out of the way you are feeling.

This pandemic is making it harder for people to function; It weighs on them. It is wearing on our minds, and it is decreasing our mental health. It is hard to stay positive when there are so many voices in your head trying to drag you down. Remember that this pandemic will be over eventually, and our mental health is not something we can just put off. Mental health needs to be nourished and fed; otherwise, it withers and dies.