Pastor s Corner: Mental Health Awareness Month
Last updated 5/14/2021 at 8:04am
As we recognize Mental Health Awareness Month, a recent study by the American Psychological Association found that 3 in 4 Americans say that the pandemic is a significant source of stress in their lives. Millions of people have lost loved ones, have become ill themselves, or have lost significant sources of income. Feelings of exhaustion, irritability, and mental fogginess are our bodies normal response to the trauma of pandemic life. Dr. Jessica Gold, a psychiatrist at Washington University in St. Louis, said after this long, most people have had some degree of anxiety, depression, trauma, something. Some have lost our sense of direction or meaning, lost in questions of our own identity and purpose. Others may be lost in the depths of grief and despair. We may be lost in broken relationships, dysfunctional family systems, a loveless marriage. We may be blind to the wonder, beauty, and mystery
Delmaine Donson via Getty Images
The stress and anxiety brought on by the pandemic is leading to a lot of brain fog. Thankfully, there are ways to get your concentration back on track.
Feeling loopy? The coronavirus pandemic has continued to disrupt our lives and it has taken a toll on us emotionally, mentally and physically. A year of being isolated at home has made people more stressed, anxious and fearful of what the future may look like. Due to the social distancing measures in place, we haven’t been able to resume the activities we’re used to doing, so we’re not actively engaging our brains.
Updated May 7, 2021 at 5:52 AM ET
In recent weeks, Dr. Kali Cyrus has struggled with periods of exhaustion. I am taking a nap in between patients, says Cyrus, a psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins University. I m going to bed earlier. It s hard to even just get out of bed. I don t feel like being active again.
Exhaustion is also one of the top complaints she hears from her patients these days. They say things like, It s just so hard to get out of bed or I ve been misplacing things more often, she says.
Some patients tell Cyrus they ve been making mistakes at work. Some tell her they can barely turn on the TV. All I want to do is stare at the ceiling. Others say they are more irritable.
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Delmaine Donson via Getty Images
The stress and anxiety brought on by the pandemic is leading to a lot of brain fog. Thankfully, there are ways to get your concentration back on track.
Feeling loopy? The coronavirus pandemic has continued to disrupt our lives and it has taken a toll on us emotionally, mentally and physically. A year of being isolated at home has made people more stressed, anxious and fearful of what the future may look like. Due to the social distancing measures in place, we haven’t been able to resume the activities we’re used to doing, so we’re not actively engaging our brains.
Listen • 4:30
Feelings of exhaustion, irritability and mental fogginess are our bodies normal response to an abnormal year of pandemic life.
In recent weeks, Dr. Kali Cyrus has struggled with periods of exhaustion. I am taking a nap in between patients, says Cyrus, a psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins University. I m going to bed earlier. It s hard to even just get out of bed. I don t feel like being active again.
Exhaustion is also one of the top complaints she hears from her patients these days. They say things like, It s just so hard to get out of bed or I ve been misplacing things more often, she says.