Are you suffering from chronic pandemic stress?
The pandemic has now been around for more than 10 months and the second spike has claimed more lives than we anticipated. We had all braced for this and many if not all of us tried to follow all the precautions to avoid getting infected with COVID-19.
However, there is a factor as indiscernible as the virus that has claimed many more victims experiencing a wide array of unexplained symptoms that escape diagnosis. One of my friends complained of frequent headaches that remained unexplained even after a series of diagnostic tests all coming up negative, another friend has an upset stomach that has defied all treatment and diagnosis. This article is a result of my researching this aspect of the pandemic and my findings may help some who are looking for answers.
Unexplained symptoms: Uncertain diagnosis
As per one NPR article; throughout the pandemic, people who never had the coronavirus have been reporting a host of seemingly unrelated symptoms: excruciating headaches, episodes of hair loss, upset stomach for weeks on end, sudden outbreaks of shingles and flare-ups of autoimmune disorders. Nationwide, surveys have found increasing rates of depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts during the pandemic. Express Scripts, a major pharmacy benefit manager, reported that prescriptions for anti-insomnia medications increased 15% early in the pandemic.
These unrelated symptoms in otherwise healthy individuals though puzzling, do have a common thread that has been a constant for quite some time, namely chronic stress. The underlying cause of these unexplained symptoms is our biological response to stress.
The stress response system: how mental stress becomes physical
Our brain and endocrine system respond to stress by triggering release of hormones like adrenaline and cortisol that can provide the energy required to deal with an immediate challenge or threat. When the threat is over, the hormones return to normal levels. But during chronic stress, such as a pandemic, the body keeps pumping out stress hormones that leads to increased inflammation throughout the body, and a poorly functioning immune system. The current problem is that the pandemic has been around for too long and the prolonged stress response is showing its effect on different parts of the body. These symptoms can become a cause of further stress resulting in aggravation of symptoms.
In case of mental health issues clinical psychologists have come up with the COVID stress syndrome specifically anchored in COVID related danger and contamination fears. This has been developed after extensive surveys of the population in Canada and USA.
Effective strategies for stress management
The first step in overcoming chronic stress symptoms is understanding your body’s reaction to stress and finding ways to reduce your stress levels. Recognizing the fact that your body is responding to stress and hence manifesting your symptoms can be the first step to reduce your stress.
More concrete steps include making lifestyle changes to improve overall physical and mental health.
- Maintain a healthy social support network and a plan of activities when you feel your stress levels rise
- Eat a healthier diet that promotes activity instead of heavy carb-loads that encourage inactivity
- Exercise regularly and engage in physical activities like walking or running outdoors
- Get adequate amount of sleep every night and pay attention to the quality of your sleep
Ask for help if needed
To assess your psychological stress level you can use some of the online screening tools for self-assessment and determine your need for intervention. These tools are educational in nature and may help you to understand your stress levels.
If you are experiencing acute stress symptoms, you can visit your primary care physician who will help in managing your physical symptoms. In addition, you can also seek the help of a clinical psychologist to prevent your stress symptoms from recurring.
It is most important to be cognizant of your invisible stress levels and consciously strive to change your lifestyle to manage your stress and avoid this by-product of the pandemic that may be more damaging than we think.
Written by Anu Darbha