In these unprecedented times due to the COVID-19 viral pandemic, day to day life is being affected at drastic levels not seen before in recent history.  Our Government and Health Professionals are taking extraordinary measures to ensure our safety – including the now popular action of social distancing.  Although it seems these arrangements are all but imperative, we need to be acutely aware of the effect these unfamiliar measures are having on our mental health and well-being.

Staying Connected

During times such as these we need to be vigilant and ever adapting.  We need to ensure we keep ourselves safe by listening to our Health Care Professionals and Governments alike, but also be grounded enough to not be ruled by the circulating FEAR (False Evidence Appearing Real) often bought about by mainstream/social media and misinformation from public opinion.

Even though seemingly scary and uncertain times are occurring due to this pandemic, we as a community need to ensure we are looking after our health (both physical and mental) as well as the health and well-being of our family and friends.

Most importantly we need to stay connected and engaged in meaningful day to day activities, so we don’t completely self-isolate and abandon our core values and goals.

How self-isolation can cause Depression?

Being isolated can often be very lonely at times, there’s no doubt. Loneliness can in turn bring about feelings of anxiety, sadness or distress due to being disconnected from the outside world.  It’s important to remember that it can however take a period of time of being isolated before these feelings become evident, and it’s even possible to feel this way when you may be self-isolating with close family or friends.  Long periods of loneliness can take a toll on our well-being and mental state, often causing a flow on effect of depressive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

How can this lead to addiction?

People that may be addicted to substances (drugs, alcohol or other) usually self-isolate as a coping mechanism by using escapism or similar anti-social behavior to avoid emotion and attachment to the real world and current events.  Inversely, those who are currently struggling with loneliness during this period of isolation may lead to develop an addiction of sorts; whether that be physical, mental or social.  There is evidence in recent studies that alcohol consumption has increased during this self isolation period and there are also concerns increased consumption can cause higher risk of susceptibility to those that are immunocompromised.

Stay Safe, be well and reach out to your support network if in need or help those that are in need.