Coronavirus and it’s impact on our mental health

It’s been a while since my last post on the Coronavirus and I feel compelled to write an update, to check in and to see how everyone is going. This is an unparalleled time in recent history and one which we will all look back on and think to ourselves, how did we cope? How did we deal with all the sudden change and uncertainty inflicted upon us by this novel virus? How did COVID-19, supposedly originating from a wet market in Wuhan, China manage to wreak complete havoc on the world? This post is dedicated to how we are feeling in the midst of this Coronavirus chaos.

After talking to family and friends, reading and listening to the media onslaught of updates on the subject it goes without saying that we are shocked, stunned, stressed and panicked by this situation. Not to mention ill-prepared. Bill Gates and others, including infectious disease expert Michael Osterholm, have been warning that an epidemic of sizeable proportions was coming for over 10 years. So why were we still so unprepared? It’s a question of priorities and the never-ending balancing of the books no doubt. Noam Chomsky would say putting profits before people. It’s our governments calling the shots however their decisions filter down and have wide reaching, dramatic consequences on the day-to-day lives of ordinary citizens. In this case, the lives of the poor and the vulnerable are most threatened, due to this lack of foresight and adequate action before the outbreak, let alone afterwards.

We’ve seen businesses, deemed ‘non-essential’ services just shut down overnight. These are those predominantly focussed around face-to-face human contact, such as the hospitality and retail industries. Education has been turned upside down with some children suddenly having to be home-schooled by their parents. This is posing even greater challenges for migrant families where the parents do not speak much English.

Companies are suddenly having to spread their workforce to various locations. Those ‘essential’ service organisations who didn’t previously offer flexible workplaces now have huge numbers of employees working from home. This transition is easier said than done with computer systems and internet connections struggling to cope with the increased network traffic.

All this COVID-19 change is confronting, concerning and challenging for those of us who are used to routine and regular, predictable work and social practices. As human beings, we thrive on social connection and feeling valued, like a we are a part of a bigger picture and we have a purpose greater than ourselves.

What is happening now is that we’ve been forced into isolation. Day-to-day existence is occurring ‘iso’ style. Perhaps for introverts, or those who don’t need to earn a living, this change is providing a welcome relief from the responsibilities of social engagement. Those who weary of idle conversation may be in their element. Regardless, whether it’s home, work or social practices everything has been impacted. Our ways of living and working have been totally disrupted!!

What does this mean for our mental health?

It seems many of us are struggling. We are feeling fearful, anxious and depressed. The immediate future, as we previously knew it, is an unknown. It’s impossible to make plans and its distressing hearing about all the people who have died from contracting this dreadful virus. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) as at today’s date, Sunday, 26th April 2020, there’s been 2,948,109 confirmed cases of Coronavirus. Of these cases 811,011 have recovered, included Boris Johnston the Prime Minister of England thank goodness.

However, there’s also been 203,608 deaths. Whether it’s the elderly, middle-aged or devoted healthcare professionals, it’s equally heartbreaking. Watching Foreign Correspondent on the ABC this week, I was teary eyed as nurses spoke of putting themselves in the line of danger in New York day-after-day. Their altruistic desire to save others, and dedication to their vocational calling, was heartwarming. They spoke of their distress as the bodies piled up due to inadequate resources to deal with the fallout from this deadly virus.

So as we grapple with this pandemic on a global scale, our day-to-day freedoms have shrunk to work, walk and shop. Vacations and getaways are a distant dream. Even a trip to the beach is out of reach currently. Unemployment is soaring to its highest rate in nearly a century and we are facing a prospective recession. Some are searching for different kinds of work if theirs has dried up. I’ve heard stories of airline pilots stocking shelves at Woolworths to feed their families.

Depending on our personal situation and vocation depends on whether we can still afford the rent, mortgage repayments, bills and to put food on the table. Some are facing dramatic consequences and feeling hopeless whilst others are having their responsibilities ramped up like doctors, nurses, teachers, government officials and finance workers. For some companies, it’s ‘business as usual’ but emotionally it certainly isn’t. Even if a person’s livelihood isn’t directly impacted it doesn’t mean they don’t have friends and family who are, that they are concerned for.

How has this all impacted me in work and in life?

I have felt a mental malaise coping. At times, it’s difficult to concentrate on tasks. My mind feels foggy and I’m struggling with a kind of mental fatigue and feelings of helplessness. I feel helpless when it comes to really making a difference when so many are suffering. I miss seeing my parents on a regular basis because I’m trying to protect them by practicing social distancing because they are in the vulnerable age group.

My friends have described having to switch off from the media updates during the week so they can get to sleep at night. Their levels of anxiety have soared and their minds are constantly racing. Other friends are concerned about the future impact of this virus on their livelihoods.

My work has continued as I work in finance and there has been lots of legislative changes impacting our roles. Thankfully, management has provided a lot of positive feedback on our flexibility and agility in adapting to the organisational changes which had to be made. Positive changes have been seeing colleagues, who previously had to commute for hours, able to work from home and be there for their kids.

I’ve really enjoyed communicating on Zoom for meetings or ‘Microsoft Teams’ to connect. I worked from home once, and enjoyed it, but have been moved to another inner-city location since. It’s much closer to my home and I’m working with a small team, which is great. We are all suitably socially distanced across the floor.

On another positive note, this situation has been absolutely wonderful for Mother Nature. The environment is getting some time to rejuvenate and refresh. Perhaps fewer species will become extinct this year as a result. Fewer planes in the sky means less carbon emissions. In India, locals have been able to see, never seen before, mountain ranges in the distance because of the massive reduction in pollution. Kangaroos have been seen hopping through town streets due to no people around.

Less opportunity to shop incessantly means less waste due to mindless consumerism. We live in a fast-changing, ever-evolving world and this shut down has enabled us to revisit ‘Life in the Slow Lane.’ Also, less options means that we have had less decisions to make. I find, this can be quite liberating intellectually and emotionally because it gives me the headspace to be creative, to be contemplative.

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Now is the time to turn inwards, rest and reflect. It’s important to breathe, be mindful, live in the moment and attempt to draw on our resilience to push through all this never-ending uncertainty. I love to spend time in my garden, tend to my pot plants and find beauty and solace in the simple things. There are small ways to find joy in the day-to-day. Whether it’s a message to a friend, a walk in the park or doing something creative, it’s so important to have hope and to express gratitude for our personal safety and serenity. What are you doing to calm the Coronvirus chaos in your life? Please share in the comments below.