Covid, A Year Later
In our year of COVID, we have experienced over 2.5 million deaths worldwide. In addition, the deadly pandemic has triggered serious emotional issues as well. People have found themselves struggling to find ways to cope with the stress of COVID.
In the midst of the COVID lockdown last year, people were comparing weight gain to the “Freshman 15”. Turns out they weren’t that far off. According to a research letter published yesterday in the JAMA Network Open, adults under shelter in place orders experienced steady weight gain of more than half a pound every 10 days. The authors state that while “this may not appear clinically important, prolonged effects as have occurred with the pandemic might lead to substantial weight gain.” The author stated that the data showed that sheltering in place led to unintended health consequences, such as weight gain.
The American Psychological Association’s Stress in America Poll in February 2021 showed that a majority of adults (61%) experienced undesired weight changes with 42% gaining more weight than intended. Of those, they gained an average of 29 pounds with 10% gaining more than 50 pounds. Adults also reported changes in sleep patterns (67%) and drinking more alcohol (23%) in order to cope with their stress.
According to The Psychiatric Times, emerging literature measures the impact of various traumatic stressors related to COVID and found that different groups have met the criteria for PTSD as a result of the pandemic — those who have themselves suffered from serious COVID-19 illness and potential death; individuals who, as family members and health care workers, have witnessed others’ suffering and death; individuals who have learned about the death or risk of death of a family member or friend due to the virus; and individuals who have experienced extreme exposure to aversive details (i.e., journalists, first responders, medical examiners, and hospital personnel).
Other stressors include social isolation, unemployment, as well as working from home while caring for others causing posttraumatic stress symptoms, as well as anxiety, depression and other symptoms including substance abuse.
Here are a few suggestions to help you cope with stress in healthy ways:
1. Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting
2. Maintain social connections through phone calls or video chats to feel less isolated
3. Take care of yourself. Eat healthy, drink plenty of water, and get enough of rest
4. Relax — take deep breaths, do yoga, meditate, listen to music, whatever works for you
