COVID fatigue

On Jan. 9, 2020, the World Health Organization announced a coronavirus-related pneumonia in Wuhan, China; by Jan. 31, WHO issued a global health emergency. The pandemic has been wreaking havoc for almost a year. With numbers continuing to rise, a condition called COVID fatigue is beginning to take its toll on many people.In the article, ì5 tips for handling ëpandemic fatigue,íî published Oct. 30 in ìUCHealth Today,î writer†Katie Kerwin McCrimmon reported that national data from the Census Bureauís†Household Pulse Survey†show that the health crisis is causing a parallel mental health pandemic.Denver psychologist Dr. Justin Ross†said in the article that about 35% to 40% of people in Colorado and the U.S. report experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression†as they deal with the pandemic; up from a baseline closer to 25% before the start of the pandemic.Ross said anxiety, depression and fatigue are the three biggest impacts on peopleís mental health because of the pandemic. ìAnxiety is being fueled by uncertainty, lacking a sense of control and having a number of important values in our lives threatened all at once,î Ross said. ìLoss is the greatest driver of depression, and this pandemic has led to all kinds of losses: important events, connection to family, friends and community, travel, opportunities, finances, and career. The list is nearly endless.î He said the fatigue piece comes from juggling multiple demands all at once, constantly trying to figure out how to keep safe and worrying that every sniffle or scratchy throat might be COVID.Nicole Weis, peer support program manager and clinical therapist at the National Institute for Human Resilience, Colorado Springs, said, ìThis past year has been unprecedented. We were not prepared for a worldwide pandemic, much less the thought that we would still be in the pandemic almost a full year later.î Weis said along with the pandemic, there has been economic fallout and stress, civil and social injustice, natural disasters across the country and a polarizing political year. ìTo put it simply, weíre tired. We are in cognitive overload and mental exhaustion,î she said. ìWe need to remember we are not alone in this and there are small things we can do to cope through the ongoing stress and fatigue.îThe National Institute for Human Resilience offers an online training program called GRIT or Greater Resilience Information Toolkit, which is meant to provide individual and community empowerment. GRIT training provides foundational education on stress, trauma and resilience, as well as key steps in reaching out and making meaningful connections in the community while focusing on strengths in self and others. Weis shared a few suggestions that GRIT encourages individuals to practice during this time:

1. Move your body; this can be an exercise goal, or just intentionally moving your body throughout the day. Some of these activities can also include calming or relaxing movements, such as yoga, mindful walking or meditation.
2. Refuel your social connections; social support and connections are positively associated with recovery from stress and trauma. Have a video coffee date with a friend, play virtual games with family who donít live nearby, talk on the phone to an older relative and ask about their favorite memories.
3. Talk it out; there is healing behind getting things out of the body. Talk to a friend or family member about the stress you are experiencing, as well as the good things going on. It can be calming and a relief to share similar experiences; thus, normalizing a situation. Journaling is also a great tool to get things out of your body and onto paper.
4. Reframe the situation; itís important to validate oneís stress and emotions, but to avoid spiraling into only negative thoughts, take time to think about and consider positive things in your life as well. We forget how powerful positive thoughts can be.
5. Focus on what can be controlled; oftentimes when we feel stressed, we also feel a sense of hopelessness and helplessness. Focus on what can be controlled in your life instead, like what time to wake up, what to eat, how much exercise to engage in that day, breathing, etc. By giving our brain something to focus on and control, we feel more power and control over our lives.
6. Be compassionate; take time to be compassionate to yourself and those around you. You may find yourself being critical about how you have managed the pandemic or other difficulties this past year. Remember, no one expected to be in a pandemic this long. Take time to show compassion to yourself and while youíre at it, find ways to show compassion to others around you as helping others boosts our own resilience.