I recently posted about helping a loved one through a time of serious anxiety and depression.
A time that took me a way down that same road of anxiety, though not to the same degree.
And though my loved one is doing a lot better, I feel compelled to write about it, and to write about ways to reduce anxiety in a series of posts.
Why?
Because I know he’s not the only one going through these things.
A few days ago, I talked to a friend I hadn’t seen for a while. Her husband and teenage son both had Covid several months earlier, and she began telling me about the problems her son has been having …
Serious depression, the inability to focus on classes, hopelessness, anxiety.
I shared with her about the difficulties my loved one had in the months after “recovering” from Covid, that although he didn’t have official long Covid — no physical symptoms — his emotions and mental state were a wreck and he couldn’t function.
And then, just yesterday, I ran into an acquaintance whose husband had been in the hospital with a serious bout of Covid.
Although it’s been nearly a year since his “recovery” — he hasn’t returned to work. The woman told me she might have to reenter the workforce in order to support their family … because her husband is just not in a state where he can.
While you read this, you might have dealt with Covid, and perhaps you know others who have as well …
And maybe none of them have suffered post-Covid difficulties such as anxiety or depression.
But I think these after-effects of anxiety and depression are more common than some of us realize …
And than some of us may care to talk about aloud.
One post I read when researching the issue makes this statement:
Anxiety is considered one of the longer-term symptoms of Post-COVID syndrome (PCS), aka Long-COVID — a recently identified diagnosis.
Research shows that between 23% and 26% of people have mental health challenges (including anxiety) after recovering from the disease, particularly females.
Some studies place that figure higher, hovering closer to the 50% mark.
Psych Central
I spoke with two guys, months back, who both admitted to going through a weird (albeit brief) stretch of depression and anxiety just after getting hit with Covid.
So, it is happening, even if the reasons behind it are not yet known or understood.
And if you’ve been able to get by so far without coming down with Covid, please try to stay safe. Please take precautions.
This is not a political thing. It is a sickness that is affecting people the world over, regardless of political affiliation, ethnicity, religion, or anything else.
And many people are dealing with long-term side effects that are not only physical.
If you or someone you love is suffering in some way, I can’t stress enough the importance of self-care — whatever that means for you and them.
Sometimes it means meditation, and sometimes other mindfulness practices. Sometimes it means just finding a good distraction, and other times it means getting more rest or getting some exercise or spending time in nature.
Do what you need to find healing and regain your health.
And know that you’re not alone.
Sometimes it just helps to know that you’re not the only one going through it …
That it’s not “just” you.
It’s not.
So hang in there. Don’t give up.
There is hope and there is healing. When my loved one was in the middle of his struggles with anxiety and depression, like I mentioned in my last post, I didn’t see a light at the end of the tunnel.
Even after he was pulling out of it, I worried that something would bring him right back down.
I still worry about it sometimes.
But today, he’s okay. Today, there is peace.
And I hope that, today, you find your space of peace as well.
The Highly Sensitive Introvert 