Since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the United States in early 2020, many things have changed: in general, other people spend more time at home, either because they want to be quarantined, want to reduce the threat of Covid-19 transmission, or have lost their way of life and are unemployed. It’s hard to look at many other people who don’t wear a mask and don’t think: is it safe?
While the effect on the intellectual fitness of this isolation may vary, it is undeniable that it has an effect on others who already suffer from anxiety or a safe spot of concern for crowds or interacting with others.
“Covid-19 pandemic isolation reinforces the anxiety of others with agoraphobia, separation anxiety or social anxiety,” says Jenny Yip, PsyD, a qualified clinical psychologist and clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Southern California’s Keck School. Medicine in Los Angeles.
Agoraphobia is a type of anxiety disorder in which you worry about and avoid situations or situations that you think you cannot escape from. They have a tendency to involve crowds, such as grocery shopping or public transportation, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). Agoraphobia goes hand in hand with panic disorder.
Some other people might delight in expanding anxiety when leaving home, but there are also those whose anxiety is triggered by staying at home, because a distraction-free environment leads to rumination that can lead you to a negative place, Yip says. , those are stressful times.
The longer the pandemic lasts, the more effect it will have on others who are not comfortable leaving home, says Carole Lieberman, MD, MPH, a psychiatrist certified as a consultant in Beverly Hills, California.
“We’ve been told for many months that it’s harmful to go anywhere there may be other people, like the grocery store or the church,” he says. The threats seem even greater.
Most people have adjusted their lives and become accustomed to spending more time at home, including running from home, allowing us to be comfortable indoors most of the day, every day.
“When we look out, it may seem like it takes a lot more energy to get out and do things,” says Dr. Lieberman.
Going out and interacting with others is a muscle you want to exercise, says Dr. Lieberman.
Through social estating, hesitation about how to interact with other dresses in masks and simply general fatigue, our “socialization talents are as intelligent as they were,” he says.
The evidence-based remedy for an anxiety disorder is what’s called exposure therapy, Yip says.
One form of cognitive behavioral therapy, it’s about repeated exposure to conditions that concern you, and avoiding them only reinforces worry. Then, confronting them head-on gives your brain the opportunity to be fit and notice that your concern is disproportionate or irrational. Facing or overcoming concerns also gives you a touch of confidence.
This might seem complicated in a pandemic; after all, shouldn’t you go out and interact with people? You still want to live your life. But be sure to take the required steps to properly disinfect, wear a mask, and practice social distancing, Yip explains.
Plan your way out and what you’ll do. This means bowling or going to the grocery store if you feel comfortable, especially if you live in a domain where the number of cases is increasing.
Instead, Yip suggests getting into the habit of going outside several times a week, preferably anything like a walk outside, because the mix of nature, sunlight, and physical activity triggers “happy hormones” like endorphins and dopamine. , it’s smart to be away, “she says.
Zoom’s exhaustion is real, but keep those social skills strong when connecting with a friend, relative, or enjoyed one.
“Even if you think you don’t want it for you, think of this training as a support,” says Dr. Lieberman.
The pandemic has leveled the field of gambling and, right now, it turns out that all your anxieties and fears are general and justified and that may make you think you shouldn’t ask for help, because almost everyone is afraid to faint. .
But ask yourself: to what extent does your anxiety and anxiety influence how it works?For example, Yip suggests:
If you are interested in those things, it is time to ask for help. The good news is that doctors practice telefitness, which means that you can feel comfortable starting therapy. Yip recommends going to the ADAA directory to find a list of intellectual fitness professionals in your area.
Does the Covid-19 message give you agoraphobia? She appeared first in The Healthy.
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