Mental Health During Quarantine
Photo by Cora Kuhlenbeck
As the world deals COVID-19, our society is experiencing things almost all of us have never experienced before. This pandemic is having all sorts of effects on us, whether it's physically or mentally. New research has been showing us that COVID-19 and the measures that we are required to take are having drastic effects on us as humans.
Social distancing, as well as the other COVID-19 regulations, has made it likely that you may be experiencing some changes in your mental health. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll, forty-five percent of adults in the United States reported that their mental health has worsened, especially because of stress and worry over the virus. Although that poll is referencing adults, I wouldn’t doubt the fact that many of us teens feel similar. Not only are teenagers no longer able to do things they normally could, but also fear for the future. High school seniors fear missing out on all their lasts they were supposed to have. Especially the important things like graduation, senior ball, and so many other events that bring closure to their previous twelve years of education. Students of all levels are similarly upset about what they have already lost and in fear of what they may lose in the future. This feeling of fear over something we have no control over can be detrimental to our health.
An article from the Los Angeles Times following a doctor who had been questioning those in quarantine claimed that those who are forced to quarantine are likely to experience an increase in “anxiety, depression, anger, irritability, insomnia and post-traumatic stress symptoms.” These feelings may be triggered due to stress, boredom, fear, financial loss, and so many other things that people have now been forced to cope with. Experiencing these feelings is a very common issue in our society right now, so it is important to remember that you're not alone in this. Many are struggling with all the changes in our lives.
In what felt like a blink of an eye, lives have changed completely. We are no longer able to go to a movie theater with our friends or sit at a restaurant with our families. These simple things were luxuries we no longer have. However, there are ways to deal with these changes in our lives. Right now is the perfect time to connect more with your family members or reach out to people you have grown apart from through social media. You can also take up a new hobby, such as drawing or learning how to play a new instrument. Not to mention the opportunity to catch up on some Netflix shows you've been meaning to watch. Although you may be missing school and your extracurriculars, you now have a lot more time to focus on yourself. This means doing things that make you happy or possibly finding new things that you enjoy. Either way, it is important to keep a positive attitude through this and remember that we are all working through this together!
