Understanding COVID Fatigue • Salt Lake Magazine

We all felt it. Early morning malaise, a feeling of trapping, a kind of miraculous despair that pervades our days, vague anxiety around others, a tendency towards agoraphobia, to leaving your home Fear of. “I don’t know what to do on my own,” some friends told me. “I’m very tired of wearing a mask.”

It’s COVID fatigue. And that’s not all in your head. Well, yes, you don’t imagine it.

One of the consequences of a coronavirus pandemic is the explosive increase in reported mental health problems. Anxiety, depression, suicide urge.According to the story of August USA TodayWomen, young adults, and children are the most afflicted, but experts fear that a pandemic of mental health will follow a coronavirus pandemic throughout the population. This is not ready for us as well. In May, the World Health Organization called for “urgent need to increase investment in services for mental health or risk a significant increase in mental health status in the coming months.” It was.

The next few months will be here. Look at some numbers.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted a survey of 5,412 people from June 24th to 30th, and the suicide data collected is alarming. About 25% of young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 say they considered suicide because of a pandemic. About 30.9% of respondents said they had “symptoms of anxiety or depression,” and about 26.3% reported trauma and stress-related disorders caused by coronavirus stress. Over 13% say they used alcohol, prescription drugs, and illicit drugs to combat the stress and anxiety caused by pandemics.

“I just want to give up, but I don’t know what to do.”

To make this more regional, Dr. Christine Francis of the University of Utah Institute for Neuropsychiatry said: “Since March, the University Institute of Neuropsychiatry (UNI) has confirmed a significant increase in calls to the Crisis Line and Warm Line. Call volume in May increased by approximately 25%. Health providers are noting increased self-reporting of stress, anxiety, depression, fear, and suicide thoughts, even among people who have no previous history of psychiatry. Individuals are pandemic, human relationships Expressing fatigue and despair for some, while talking about tension, physical isolation as a family, transition to working from home, financial uncertainty, and fear of the unknown for social justice. doing.”

“No matter where you look, there is only bad news.”

In addition to the coronavirus itself, anxiety about climate change such as heat waves, wildfires and hurricanes can cause stress and turmoil such as political and family turmoil caused by school schedule changes, workplace and daily life disruptions. It is full of bubbling mud.

In addition, we live in Utah, where there is a significant shortage of mental health services.

A Salt Lake Tribune The article quoted a report published in August by the Chem C. Gardner Institute for Policy Studies in collaboration with the Utah Hospital Association. “Less than half of adults with mental illness in Utah are treated or counseled, and suicide is the leading cause of death. Youth in the state. It was ranked 51st in the national mental health ranking because of important needs that it did not have. ”

2020 was the first governor’s election in which candidates included mental health as part of the platform. Concerns and reactions to COVID-19 (social distance, quarantine, school closures, telecommuting programs, wearing masks) began in March last year, but the emotional response of the public seems to have peaked now. According to Dr. Francis, this is normal. “Looking back at the financial crisis of 2007-2008 and looking at trends, we found the” impact of delays. ” A few months after it began, reported anxiety and depression increased, and suicide rates increased by 4%. At first, everyone is fine. There is a delay between trauma and its symptoms.

“I just don’t know why I wake up in the morning.”

You have reached the limit of COVID. There is a significant lack of resources to deal with it.

Why is there a lack of care? Experts cite everything from high treatment costs to cultural prejudices against seeking mental health help. “Often,” said one local psychologist. “Depression is said to be a matter of willpower and courage, or it is advisable to pray about it.”

In fact, mental health is brain health. Complex chemical interactions in the brain can cause depression and despair.

“I just want to hug someone, but I can’t.”

For example, it’s not just about missing human touch in a sentimental way. You need it, just as you need sunshine and fresh air. It’s part of our health. According to one study, according to Dr. Francis, “35% of respondents say it’s been more than four months since they hugged someone outside their family. Humans intend to have physical contact with each other. We have a physiological endocrine response that releases endorphins when touched. ”

People still don’t think of the brain as an organ, a part of the body. “When your brain is sick or ill, you have pain and dysfunction, you affect your body,” says Francis.

You literally feel it.

“We see it when there is confusion in speech, behavior, or verbal symptoms. But in the case of depression or anxiety, it is a matter of personality, not a symptom of brain illness. I think. “

But, ironically, there are even barriers between admitting that you need help and getting it, as people don’t want to leave the house, especially during this pandemic. In rural areas, the shortage of rural mental health care providers exacerbates the problem. Telemedicine is one potential solution that has gained momentum during the pandemic, said Nancy Klein, director of expertise at the Utah Psychological Association. Also, telecounseling is easier for some people to handle than face-to-face therapy.

Some of today’s mental health problems can be self-alleviated by frequent exercise, a healthy diet, good sleep, or abstention from alcohol or drugs. The brain is your body, but most treatments require professional help.

Children are not okay: School closures exacerbated student mental health problems and made it difficult to reach help.

“We switch vocabulary and call it” crisis teaching “instead of” remote teaching. ” This is a much more accurate representation of what we are facing, “says Betsy Weidner, a ninth-grade English teacher at Sandy’s Waterford School. “The isolation that our students experience is of utmost concern. That’s what keeps me up late.” Waterford, a private school, is a hybrid education model that consists of both distance learning and face-to-face learning. I started the school year at. This was just one of several disagreements that Utah schools tried to educate and engage students when schools reopened during the pandemic. Some were open for direct instruction, while others, including the Salt Lake Public School, were completely remote. Regardless of the model, students, teachers, and managers encountered unprecedented situations after returning home, far beyond the teaching system. Addressing student mental health needs has historically been an undervalued aspect of education, while at the same time becoming more essential and difficult to implement in the COVID era. “In reality, teachers are field boots and often identify the students who need help first,” Weidner says. “There is an organic network between teachers who know the same student, but because they are isolated from each other, that connection is lost. I’m worried that I might miss something. The combination of wearing masks, which is essential to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, enhances the mental health stressors caused by student isolation by distance learning, limited classroom capacity, and reduced extracurricular activities. I am. Educators are struggling to implement these policies, as abandoning them can have devastating consequences for public health. “Children are incredibly elastic and conditioned to tell you that everything works,” Weidner says. However, many have not developed a healthy coping mechanism to help deal with what has become a serious social trauma. “Many students have their own treatments through interpersonal relationships and passion, whether athletics, art, or just connecting with friends. If you replace it with chronic isolation, some Students begin to see drifting in the dark. ”Providing access to mental health resources during a pandemic is an urgent concern, especially in Utah, according to the latest CDC data. Has the seventh highest teenage suicide rate in the United States. Waterford has an advantage over many schools due to its staff of multiple counselors, high dean involvement, and consistently high parental involvement, but suddenly in the extremely online world, Still, it may not be enough. “The negative echo chambers you may encounter when much of your life is online can be dangerous. If much of your experience is based on anonymity, how healthy and authentic Would you like to grow your community online? ”Widener asks. Perhaps if you focus your energy and resources on creating a safe enough environment to open a school instead of opening bars and restaurants to ease the boredom of the group, you won’t vie for an answer. .. — Tony Gil

So who are you going to call? Your first resource may admit that depression and anxiety are real illnesses. Therefore, please consult your regular doctor. Your GP can change your lifestyle and prescribe some basic medications. Make an appointment with a psychologist or therapist who holds a master’s degree in counseling or social work. You can meet a psychologist in person or very easily online. Telecounseling has seen a huge surge during Covid and may become the norm in the future. Patients are often more comfortable speaking through the zoom from the comfort of their home. Psychologists cannot prescribe or perform psychological tests, but they can help guide you to those who can. Talk therapy and medication are often the most effective treatments. If you (or your psychologist / therapist) think you need medicine, consult a psychiatrist. A psychiatrist is a complete doctor who specializes in brain health. They can prescribe the right medicine. These drugs do not change you, they restore you to your full self, just as insulin restores your body’s glycemic balance. Our nervous system communicates through chemicals that need to be regulated. Mindfulness, such as guided meditation and therapy, can help you change your perspective. By working with a recommended life coach, you can prioritize and organize what kind of assistance you seek.

Technical resources help SafeUT is an app operated by the University of Utah that promotes real-time Time Crisis chat and tiplines. The free confidential app connects with qualified clinicians who can assist with assistance or crisis counseling, suicide prevention and referral services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. SafeUT has been adopted by many schools in the state and is an essential tool for teens, adolescents, and everyone involved. SafeUT can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play on your smartphone. https://healthcare.utah.edu/uni/safe-ut/

Coaches aren’t just for athletes Another resource for those seeking help is to get the help of a life coach. Life coaches, who are more practical than traditional counseling and less clinical than psychiatrists, can help break down old negative patterns and provide structures and game plans to make the desired changes. Problems range from weight loss and a healthy life to helping an adult child become more self-reliant.According to Catherine Dixon, a local life coach at the Clarity Coaching Institute, “My 17 years of practice have made me realize that this year people are more honest about their pain and hardship. With additional stress, People are ready to make changes. The status quo is no longer sufficient, people are looking for more credibility and deeper meaning in their lives, and they are moving forward faster than ever before. Thrilling “— Clarity Coaching Institute Life Coach, Jenhill Kathryn Dixon ClarityCoachingInstitute.com 801-953-3942