Long COVID: The Lingering (Mental) Health Effects from COVID
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, you may have heard warnings that even when someone recovers from the virus, certain physical symptoms may endure. This has been referred to as “long COVID” and it can look very similar to a person’s original symptoms of the virus. The CDC notes that in addition to lingering physical symptoms, other post-COVID conditions such as depression, anxiety, and mood changes can be present.1 The reason for these conditions being present can be challenging to determine since in addition to the physical symptoms of COVID, many people have experienced major life disruptions, such the loss of loved ones, job losses, school closures and re-openings, social isolation, and more.
“many people have experienced major life disruptions, such the loss of loved ones, job losses, school closures and re-openings, social isolation, and more”
In non-pandemic times, any one of these factors on its own could contribute to someone experiencing depression, anxiety, or mood changes. Coping with the lingering effects of COVID is complicated because for most of us, it is hard to understand what we have just gone through and nearly impossible to know what lies ahead.
For many walking these uncertain roads during the pandemic, addressing their mental and emotional health needs through counseling has been a strategy for dealing with pandemic- and non-pandemic-related challenges that have surfaced or resurfaced during these past couple of years. Now, as we enter a period of slowing rates of infection in many areas and the lifting of mandates, it can start to feel as if life may be moving back toward “normal” or some version of a new normal. And that’s a good thing. Yet, it may be tempting for us to think that beginning to move beyond the confines of masks and social distancing is therapeutic itself and all that we need to start feeling like our old selves again. For some, this may work and not all will need further intervention. But for many, struggles will persist and the memories, trauma, and grief ushered in by the pandemic will linger, much like shortness of breath or fatigue may do so for someone suffering from long COVID. Of course, the prospect of a new variant of COVID looms as well and may continue as a source of anxiety for some.
“for many, struggles will persist and the memories, trauma, and grief ushered in by the pandemic will linger, much like shortness of breath or fatigue may do so for someone suffering from long COVID”
It is such a positive step that so many have sought mental health care during the COVID pandemic and that a spotlight has been shone on the devastating effects to mental health that COVID has brought. As we enter periods of lowering rates of infection and death, may we celebrate that progress but also not forget the damage that has been done throughout the pandemic and the work that remains for many to experience health and thriving once again. It is okay and normal to continue to struggle with your mental and emotional health even when we are being told that COVID infection rates are decreasing and things overall may be improving. If this resonates with you and you think you could benefit from talking with a trained professional who could help you through a process of experiencing relief and healing, please reach out to us at Lullwater Counseling today. We would love to talk with you and help connect you to a counselor to begin your journey of healing and growth.
1 https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/clinical-care/post-covid-conditions.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fhcp%2Fclinical-care%2Flate-sequelae.html
Long COVID: The Lingering (Mental) Health Effects from COVID