Signs of mental health struggles
HOUSTON – Signs of mental health struggles can appear up to 18-months after a traumatic event, according to the Clinical Director of the Nick Finnegan Counseling Center, Audrey Omenson.
This means some people could be feeling signs and symptoms of the mental strain right now and not realizing it’s directly linked to the pandemic.
Signs of the pandemic taking a toll on mental health are all around us, Omenson used the example of increased road rage and homicides. There’s also an increase in people acknowledging they feel depressed, anxious and irritable.
Omenson said the pandemic may lead to these emotions popping up much later since this difficult time is different from most traumatic events that happen in a short timeframe and then end. For example, Hurricane Harvey lasted about a week, and then people were able to begin recovery. The pandemic is ongoing.