IncreaseInPost-PandemicStress DisorderCasesReported
Whileitiswelldocumentedthattheincidenceofmentalillnessdisordersandsubstancemisuse increasedduringthepandemic,whatmanydon'tknowisaboutispost-pandemicstressdisorder,a seriesofemotionalandbehavioraldisturbancesbroughtonassocietycontinuestotransition...
DuringCOVID-19,theWorldHealthOrganizationreporteda staggering25%increaseinreportsofanxietyanddepression andacorrespondingincreaseindrugmisusetocopewith thosedisorders.
TheCDCreportedthatduringthattime13%ofAmericans reportedstartingorincreasingsubstancemisuseand, tragically,a30%increaseinoverdosescomparedwithprepandemiclevels.
ResearchconductedbyBostonUniversity discovereddepressionratestripledandsymptoms worsenedoverthepandemici.e.,32.8%of Americansexperiencedheighteneddepressive symptomsin2021,comparedto27.8%percentin 2020andjust8.5%beforethepandemic.
Whatarethesymptomsofpost-pandemicstress disorder?Cohensaysitpresentsitselfmuchlike traditionalPTSD:heightenedfeelingsoffearandanxiety, recurrentandintrusivethoughts,presenceofnegative emotions,socialwithdrawal,sleepdisorders,nightmares, changeineatingbehavior,
"Aslockdowns,mask-wearingandsocialdistancingbecamelessofanissue andfolksbegantoresumetheirpre-pandemiclives,theseissueshavenotlet upandwe'reseeingaslightincreaseinthem.
TheNationalAllianceonMental Illnessacknowledgespost-pandemic stressdisorderandhascoinedthe term,"fearofnormal"todescribeit. Thatorganizationsays,"Asweinchtowards anewnormal,afirstgoodstepisrecognizing thatthepandemicisatraumaticeventwe collectivelyexperienced.
Wecantakeextracaretoaddresstheunderlyingemotionsandtherealityofreturningtonormal" Toaddressthosedealingwithearlysignsofpost-pandemicstressdisorder,HarmonyPlacealong withtheNationalAllianceonMentalIllnessrecommends:practicingmindfulnessactivities.
Iftheselifestylechangesfailto alleviatethesymptoms,don'tbe afraidtoreachoutforhelp. Consultingwithaqualified mentalhealthprofessionalmay beinorder.
