Concerns over real, imagined and unknown dangers can affect us deeply as we pursue our daily lives. The Québec state government in Canada published guidelines we summarize, and link to below. But in this context it is important to remember the relationship between stress, anxiety, depression and COVID-19 is subjective. And that it varies according to circumstances from person to person.
Unpicking Stress Anxiety Depression and COVID-19
COVID-19 does more than harm our physical health if we catch it. That’s because fear of infection can also cause stress, anxiety, and depression too.
- Stress is a normal response to a particular, abnormal situation. It should come and go with the trigger but it can endure.
- However, anxiety is a reaction to a vague or unknown threat. It may manifest when we fear something bad could happen.
- Depression is a sense of lethargy, discouragement and sadness. It affects us mentally but also physically too.
These symptoms may appear singly, or together in an individual. COVID-19 may also bring them on if we fear the pandemic and its consequences, and doubt our ability to conquer them.
The Outward Signs of These Inner Feelings
Physical Symptoms We May Experience
Stress, anxiety, depression, and COVID-19 can manifest as difficulty sleeping, reduced appetite, head and neck aches, tummy problems, fatigue, and lost energy.
Psychological and Emotional Signs
- Concerns and general insecurity over the virus.
- Sense of being overwhelmed by the situation.
- Negative expectations about future events.
- A private world that does not reflect reality.
- Broad discouragement, sadness, even anger.
How This Acts Out in Behavior
This far we wrote about subjective feelings. However, these can act out in ways other people may detect, and seek to understand. First, for example affected people may have difficulty concentrating, although this may turn to irritability and aggression.
But they may also withdraw into themselves, where we see them then crying quietly alone. Others may seem to have difficulty reaching decisions. They may even turn to alcohol and substance abuse to dull their pain. We therefore need to recognize these outward signs of inner turmoil, and accept that this is real to them.
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