We are currently in limbo, suspended between the Before Times and a possible light at the end of the tunnel. Perhaps the vaccines will be distributed quickly enough to usher in a new reality that carries some similarity to our old lives. Perhaps just as lingering memories of pre-COVID times fade, we will be greeted by a less-bleak 2021. Even with the pandemic receding (knock on wood!), the stress and loneliness it caused still affect our mental health and well-being. Since the pandemic, many have found it harder to concentrate, maintain a sleep schedule and stay optimistic, almost as if our brains are on a “pandemic brain” mode.
This “pandemic brain” phenomenon is actually based on science and is not a figment or mishap in our brains. Much of it is caused by stress, even though we may not realize it. Tina Franklin, a neuroscientist from Georgia Tech, said that living through a pandemic, even if in relative comfort, “is exposing [us] to microdoses of unpredictable stress all the time.” Studies have also shown that prolonged boredom can be, ironically, stressful. The sources of pandemic stress combined with school and our other responsibilities can lead to unrelenting feelings of incessant stress. This stress can cause other emotions, like numbness, fear, anger, sadness, and worry. It can lead to changes in our appetite, energy, and sleep habits. It can even create physical reactions, like headaches or rashes.
Mike Yassa, a neuroscientist from UCI, even said that “We’re all walking around with some mild cognitive impairment… Based on everything we know about the brain, two of the things that are really good for it are physical activity and novelty. A thing that’s very bad for it is chronic and perpetual stress.” In addition to the stress, our environment is full of too much Zoom, rare excursions to novel places, and no hugs from friends. This confuses our brains and contributes to the “pandemic brain” feeling. Experiments on rats by neuroscientist Marian Diamond have shown that rats in cages with toys and playmates (“enriched environments”) performed better in mazes due to improved cognitive function compared to rats in less-enriched cages.
Overall, these unexpected doses of stress combined with our environment have caused many of us to feel inexplicably tired and maybe a little depressed and anxious. Mixed in is a strange emotion of indifference, as we complete tasks, eat, and sleep akin to Sim characters. In the late-stages of the pandemic, some of these feelings have faded, but they serve as a reminder of the spring of the pandemic and those who cannot return to (somewhat) normal life yet.
For others, however, these moderate feelings of Sim-like hollowness have morphed into hopelessness. Anonymous surveys conducted by the CDC have shown that mental health issues have increased dramatically in 2020 as compared to the same time in 2019. Overall, 40.9% of the 5,470 adults surveyed (in June 2020) reported at least one “adverse mental or behavioral health condition” due to the pandemic. 30.9% of those reported having symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder. 26.3% of respondents reported having symptoms of trauma- and stressor-related disorder (TSRD). 13.3% reported an increase in their substance use habits to cope with stress and/or emotions. 10.7% of respondents reported experiencing serious suicidal thoughts and ideations within 30 days of completing the survey. Most of those reporting suicidal thoughts were younger adults, minorities, unpaid care-givers of adults, and essential workers. The CDC hopes that increased use of telehealth and providing equitable access to health resources will help reduce the consequences of dangerous mental distress and unhealthy coping mechanisms.
Studies are underway to determine if COVID-19 related mental health issues were directly caused or exacerbated by social isolation, the absence of regular school structure, unemployment, financial uncertainty, and sexual, emotional, mental, or domestic violence. The CDC urges communities to intervene and offer support (financially, socially, etc.) when they realize a member of their community is struggling.
The first step we can take to help others struggling with mental health is to realize that the “pandemic brain” is not our fault. We have not become soft, lazy, and faded versions of our old selves, we are enduring a world-changing event, a global pandemic, that few prior generations have ever experienced. We should remember that our emotions and doubts are valid. We should remember that the best ways to cope cognitively are by getting physical activity (go Tartan Sports!), connecting with others, and taking breaks when we need them. We should acknowledge our mental health as a serious condition and make it a comfortable topic in conversation, so those who are struggling are more able to reach out for help. We may be a little lonely, but we are not alone.
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