Agoraphobia Due To The COVID Pandemic
As we start to return to normal in life post vaccine, some of us may have noticed that not all of our friends are returning in quite the same way. Of course things are still new and there may still be many places requiring masks, but in the rare incidences where we can go somewhere fully vaccinated and maskless you may notice a few friends opting to keep the mask on. Or maybe your circle is planning a dinner party on a patio and despite everyone being fully vaccinated, a few friends demur citing feelings of unease. While transition always takes some time, what you or your loved ones could be experiencing is Covid Anxiety Disorder. Though still new, many doctors are noticing a new phenomena of anxiety emerging as the pandemic subsides. What is Covid Anxiety Disorder though and what are the options if you feel like you are being affected by it?
The most important thing to start with is that this is just a term at the moment and not an actual diagnosis. Doctors are noticing a trend and are currently studying it. Another thing to realize is that it could stem from long standing mental health issues. Those already diagnosed with depression, OCD, PTSD or anxiety may be feeling an uptick in symptoms. If you are one of these people, please do not hesitate to get an appointment with your provider to see if your medication needs adjusting or if you need to up your therapy sessions. Covid Anxiety Disorder can also be undiagnosed mental health problems that are just now surfacing with our support systems compromised. Basically, what this disorder is can be three fold: an increase in symptoms of previously diagnosed mental health problems, undiagnosed problems surfacing or actual PTSD spurred on by the pandemic in a previously mentally well person. Because of this, the symptoms can vary greatly as they can be symptoms for any of the above mental health problems.
But the symptoms you experience will be a clue to how the disorder is affecting you. If you are you experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD or OCD including repeatedly doing tasks without the ability to stop yourself, depression, feelings of hopelessness and dread, problems sleeping, feeling nervous of crowds and social settings, and just general feelings of unease that are behind your baseline, it might be time to consider professional help. If you start seeing loved ones acting in the same way it might be time to gently suggest help.
Another possibility is a rise in agoraphobia as one Harvard doctor is surmising. Perhaps you remember hearing about agoraphobia in your literature class in high school in reference to Emily Dickinson or Sylvia Plath. Agoraphobia is the fear of open spaces or more plainly to leave the house, or unfamiliar surroundings. It is beyond feeling uncomfortable, but an actual anxiety laden experience that makes it close to impossible to leave. It makes you avoid situations where you feel embarrassed or threatened and the fear is severely out of place to the risk. It is theorized that this anxiety disorder is making a new emergence with many people linking crowds and outside to illness and possible death. Whether this is proper agoraphobia, or simply, anxiety and fear from the pandemic linked to these similar situations is unclear. Coronaphobia is the term also being thrown around being defined as agoraphobia caused by the pandemic.
Regardless, the American Psychological Association states that Americans are experiencing a nationwide mental health crisis from the pandemic that will have repercussions for years to come. If you or your loved ones are feeling lost, depressed, or anxious, even if you have no history of mental illness it is important to keep track of the symptoms and get help when necessary. We will likely see much more mental health related issues in the coming months as people who were mentally affected from the pandemic slowly try to reemerge and find they can not. Patience and empathy for yourself and others is crucial in this time. We can only emerge stronger from this pandemic if we lift each other up on the way. Reach out to us at info@bullionite.com with your comments and questions!