We stay away from people in public. We can’t see loved ones, and we intentionally isolate ourselves. Anxiety and fear about a new disease, about being sick and about what may or may not happen is overwhelming. With over 200,000 people dead from COVID-19 in the U.S. alone, people are plenty concerned about physical health. Every cough and sneeze in the grocery store causes glares as people step away.
But within our physical bodies lies another obstacle: the mind. Months into the pandemic, it seems only now that mental health, and the stressors associated with COVID-19, are a concern.
Stress can cause a variety of symptoms, some of which can weaken the immune system. Changes in sleeping and eating patterns, worsening of chronic and mental health conditions and increased use of alcohol, tobacco and other substances are all symptoms of stress. “Coping with stress in a healthy way will make you, the people you care about and your community stronger,” the Center of Disease Control (CDC) reported.
Zoom happy hours have become iconic with many turning to liquid therapy. According to Winsight Grocery Business, online alcohol sales went up 339% for the week ending May 9, as opposed to last year at the same time. Alcohol removes all the happy hormones in the body, Tatiana Sifri, director of Dyson Wellness Center, said. “It’s like shooting yourself in the foot by using substances.” Alcohol does no favors for mental or physical health.
The CDC lists a variety of resources on their page about mentally coping during the pandemic. The resource list includes everything from 911 and the Disaster Distress Helpline, to hotlines for suicide prevention, domestic violence, child abuse and sexual assault.
People who may react more strongly to current stressors include those at higher risk for illness, children and teens, essential workers, those socially isolated and racial and ethnic minority groups.
Sifri finds it surprising that she has only recently started to see a rise in requests for counseling since the pandemic started. People are having a hard time. But only now, months after the first shutdowns began, are students getting comfortable enough to reach out. “Mental health issues are on the rise and are predicted to be extraordinary in the next year and beyond,” Sifri said.
The conversation about mental health is at the forefront with college presidents across the country pushing for resources. “It’s become a ginormous need in colleges across the U.S.,” Sifri said. “For me, what would be really helpful is not just focusing on the physical concerns of COVID but on the mental health aspect of how this pandemic is impacting people right now.”
Anxiety and depression are rising. Any previous issues people had are becoming more prominent.
“I would love to see more focus on how we can do prevention work and really build on all the ways we can manage ourselves and manage stress,” Sifri said. Basic needs must be fulfilled. Many of the actions required to take care of physical health are the same things required to take care of mental health. “We’re all one being,” Sifri said. “We’re physical and mental and emotional.” The things she does for herself boosts not only the immune system but “relaxes my muscles, which tells my mind I’m safe and okay … I can reduce my likelihood of getting a cold by relaxing my body.”
The impact this pandemic has on our futures is dependent on the person, their circumstances and their outlook on this unprecedented time. “If someone has to isolate, for example, and they are in a household that is abusive, they are going to experience that, potentially, in a very different way than, you know, someone who is in a very safe and loving, calm environment,” Sifri said.
Dyson Wellness Center is currently providing telehealth appointments only, but, Sifri said, many prefer an in-person approach. “People are slow to come to telehealth. It’s new, it’s a little different,” Sifri said. “There are different stages of adapting to this whole new way of life.”
Introverts and extroverts are also going to be affected differently. Introverted people have been thriving during the pandemic. Opportunities they may have yearned for in the past, such as the option to contribute to classes through an online chat instead of an in-person discussion, are now possible and practical.
Callie Todaro, ‘23, worries about the scholastic impact COVID-19 is having. Trying to learn from computer screens in a shortened amount of time, she explained, is not ideal. “When you’re sitting there, you know, 7 hours a day just doing homework on your computer … sometimes you feel like you’re just in the same routine and never getting out of your bubble.”
Todaro is extroverted and prefers in-person classes. “It’s not the best way to learn but we have to improvise,” she said.
“We steer away from taking care of ourselves,” Todaro said, and instead are focused on the overwhelming amount of projects and homework for school while trying to do it all in unfamiliar formats. Everything has become a learn-as-you-go process. The time no longer exists to sit down and get a grasp on a specific subject.
Balancing the stress of being a full-time student during a pandemic is not the only thing Todaro struggles with. She works at the campus radio station and Boilerhouse Cafe. “They expect a lot of us as student workers,” she said. Todaro also lives five hours away, making it difficult to see family.
“I do worry about my parents most of all,” Todaro said. Her dad coaches softball and is an essential worker surrounded by people, while her mom works from home. Todaro’s grandparents are quarantined at home.
“I feel bad that they can’t get out and see their grandkids and do stuff that grandparents want to. As they get older, you never know what’s going to happen. They’re stuck behind closed doors,” Todaro said.
Many have had to quarantine at home at some point during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is vital to remember that staying home requires just as much self care and attention to being healthy as being at school or work.
“Step back,” Sifri said, when taking care of mental health. It’s vital to think about the things that make you happy and to “remember the things that make you feel good,” such as music, exercise, sleep and food. It’s “so much about the basics first,” she said. Even when you can’t physically be around people, you can be virtually surrounded by the people you love.
“I will never forget the teacher who taught me ‘small hinges open large doors’,” Sifri said. The small things, such as sleeping a few more minutes, treating yourself or taking a short break can significantly impact well-being.
Todaro stays mentally healthy by taking time for herself, reading, biking and having a planner to stay organized.
“When I think of mental health, I think, ‘Are you actually taking the time to focus on yourself and satisfy your needs?’ And now, I think it’s looked at as, ‘Are you taking the right precautions?’” Todaro said. “We were never a proactive community; we were always a reactive community.”
Todaro is glad she sees this starting to change on campus.
Finding a therapist is also important. For those who cannot afford professional therapy, there are often free support groups, mentors and other resources to turn to. Sifri also highlights the importance of getting help for others and having each other’s back. She advises students to use the Early Alert referral found on NCC’s website, where students, faculty or staff can identify anyone they think might be struggling.
The COVID-19 pandemic has us stuck at home, in our dorms and going out of our minds.
“We are social beings,” Sifri said. “Love and connection is what we thrive off of.”
