Although the epidemic is finished, our mental strain continues

 Although the epidemic is finished, our mental strain continues

Because humans have limited mental capacity, years of coping with COVID-19 and its aftermath, along with economic hardships and concerns about geopolitical instability, have clearly worn down those capacities.

Almost 25% of individuals said they were functioning at their greatest levels of stress in an August study.

We keep hearing from surveys that Americans are having difficulty. The most recent survey, the American Psychological Association's annual stress index for the US, shows that people's levels of stress are still higher than they were prior to the epidemic. The issue at hand is what action to take.

And it makes sense why people are under so much stress: Humans have limited mental capacity, and years of coping with COVID and its aftermath, in addition to economic hardships and concerns about geopolitical unrest, have clearly worn them down. In the August APA poll, about 25% of individuals rated their stress levels at least an eight out of ten, indicating that they were working at maximum levels. Parents' self-reported stress levels were so high that over half of them described their days as "completely overwhelming," and 41% claimed that it interferes with their ability to operate.

The worsening mental health of adolescents and teenagers has received a lot of attention over the past year or two. Although children were already having difficulties before to COVID-19, the concerning information on increased rates of anxiety, sadness, and suicidal thoughts during the pandemic has inspired policymakers, educators, and parents to take all necessary steps to support children who are experiencing a crisis.

However, we must also remember that a lengthy period of unrelenting uncertainty, dread, loss, and social isolation also had a profound impact on people. Adults ages 18 to 45 reported the largest increases in stress levels since before the epidemic, according to the American Psychological Association's poll of adults.

In comparison to before the pandemic, that demographic also had a significant rise in diagnoses for mental and chronic illnesses. The epidemic sparked a more candid public dialogue on mental health, and the study is unable to discern the extent to which the increase may be attributable to more individuals seeking assistance than in the past. However, the rise was significant enough in younger age groups (44 percent of individuals 34–44 reported a mental health diagnosis, up from 31 percent in 2019), suggesting that a combination of increased stress and more attention to treatment is probably to blame.

Furthermore, compared to just over 50% of individuals in 2019, those under 45 are today the most concerned about the economy, with over 70% identifying it as a key stressor. Once again, parents seem to be the most hit, with two thirds saying their financial concerns preoccupied them.

We are not powerless to control that stress, even when it comes to those who claim to be feeling it the most acutely. The director of the Yale Interdisciplinary Stress Center, Rajita Sinha, says she often advises those experiencing high stress to take a moment to ask themselves, "Where's the fire?" Naturally, we should respond in the event of a true emergency, but in the meantime, it might be helpful to do a simple self-evaluation by asking yourself, "Am I okay? How's my family doing? Who can assist?

The next step is to ask a friend or family member for help. The need of social connection in coping may seem self-evident, but research indicates we're not doing a very good job of it. In the APA study, 62% of participants said that they avoid talking about their emotions so as not to bother others, but 2/3 also stated that "they could have used more emotional support than they received."

This is consistent with a study released earlier this year by US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, who warned that loneliness was becoming an epidemic in the US and was just as harmful to public health as smoking. The amount of time Americans spend interacting with others seems to be declining, according to recent studies. Making a conscious effort to reestablish relationships, even if it's only messaging a buddy, might make us feel less alone.

Additionally, we should all be more adept at identifying the causes of our stress and controlling our responses to them. According to Lynn Bufka, assistant executive director for practice research and policy at the APA, "we can control our exposure to such news, but we can't control the ominous news that's giving us a feeling of existential dread." Bufka says, "Determine how much information you need to make a decision for your life, and then turn it off."

When these little adjustments are made on a regular basis, they may help us overcome some of the aftereffects of a few very trying years and improve our ability to handle the new difficulties that always seem to crop up.