When scientists Burton, Augtherson, Fancourt and Philip completed their research, they summed it up in eight words a subject spoke. ‘I was in the grips of Long COVID. I had no life, I was only existing’, they said. The team hoped to explore factors impacting mental health and well being from the perspective of victims. They found five themes affecting their chances of recovery, as detailed in link below.
A Brief Overview of Their Long COVID Study
The researchers interviewed 21 people in the grips of Long Covid. So this was a small study requiring further validation. On the other hand though, we imagine the small size enabled longer and more detailed conversations. All the participants had a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, and displayed at least one frequently-occurring symptom.
Unpacking ‘I Had No Life I Was Only Existing’
Those symptoms showed early after the first infection, but endured for three or more weeks. The condition then spun out into Long COVID after the initial infection passed. The researchers uncovered a common theme of frustration or anxiety due to a lack of understanding, and support from health professionals.
Their subjects used words like ‘ignored’, abandoned’, and ‘being brushed aside’ according to News 24. We begin to understand the emotions behind those heart-wrenching words ‘I had no life I was only existing.’ The five themes we mentioned earlier were:
1… Care and understanding from others.
2… Lack of service and treatment options.
3… Severe disruption to their daily life.
4… Uncertainty of illness trajectories.
5… Changes to perception of self.
And finally, they were bowed down and depressed when health practitioners ascribed Long COVID symptoms to their mental health. In many cases they had to rely on empathy from their social networks.
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Preview Image: ‘The Scream’ Composition, 1893
