In most parts of the United States, we’re living under conditions unprecedented in our lifetimes. Never before have millions of Americans been asked to “shelter in place,” and yet many of us have been doing just that for upward of two months now, with varied amounts of additional time stretching out ahead of us—and then, perhaps, a year of sporadic lockdowns to follow. It’s uncharted territory and experts are still debating how the effects of such long-term social isolation might impact our mental health.
While public health experts agree that this scenario is best for our physical health, no one could argue it’s doing any favors for our mental health. You may have seen a meme or two comparing what you’re being asked to do—”stay home and watch Netflix”—compared to, say, being asked to go to war in Vietnam, with the implication being that you should stop whining because you have it relatively good. In some ways, this is absolutely true; however, downplaying the difficulty of the situation we’re in is problematic. The risks we face are very real, and uncertainty remains as to how we can expect them to unfold over time.
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The fact that there is 37,893 peaks on my sitting room stippled ceiling paint should not be taken in anyway that this isolation is getting to me, as a matter of fact by the time this is over I reckon I will be a top indoor hang glider,
ReplyDeleteSheltering in place can be as traumatic in some ways as being held hostage. Stop reading at that sentence. No harm to anybody that's struggling, too melodramatic for me
ReplyDeleteAgree with David, the reporter's interpretations of the scientists' comments are rather melodramatic. That sort of spin, even if it's understandable, has become the journalistic norm alas. With the information supply far exceeding demand the most mundane reportage has to be sensationalised.
ReplyDeleteLife lesson # 1. It is riddled with uncertainty ... always has been and always will be.
There's no exit from that inevitability. The only difference currently is that all our attention, and rightly so in my opinion, is being directed at Covid 19. However, it's important to keep some perspective though; life expectancy for the vast, vast majority is not lessened by this pandemic. Life was risky before Covid 19 too. It just wasn't so much in our face as itis now. Sure, there are extra inconveniences but if we want to manage and lessen our risk, we have to take our medicine.
We may be physically isolated but to claim we're socially isolated is erroneous. We live in a digitally connected age. I have greater difficulty ring-fencing my time now for work and projects than I ever had; more communications go unanswered than get responded to.
People you know can learn better self-regulation skills. Setting some daily realistic goals and following through will also generate satisfaction, allowing for small dopamine hits.
Anxieties can be managed; the sympathetic nervous system (the fight, flight or freeze response) can be nudged closer to the parasympathetic mode (rest & digest, relaxation phase) with some easily practiced breath exercises.
We can learn to self-regulated and avoid overwhelm and despair.
Yes, we do have a basic need to give and receive attention. An absence or curtailment of that alone though is unlikely to precipitate 'depression'. Even if compounded with absence of other innate needs such as those of autonomy, security and community, depression is not inevitable. Depression is more likely caused by excessive rumination about these absences rather than by the absence itself.