People with COVID-19 More Likely to Develop Depression, Anxiety, and Dementia

A new study from the United Kingdom found that people who were sick with COVID-19 had a significant chance of developing a psychiatric disorder after recovering. According to the reportTrusted Source published in The Lancet on November 9, 18 percent of COVID-19 patients developed a mental health issue — like depression, anxiety, or dementia — within 3 months of diagnosis. Their risk was doubled compared to people who didn’t have COVID-19. Doctors have suspected that COVID-19 was linked to higher rates of mental health problems. Based on the study, nearly 20 percent of COVID-19 patients developed a mental health issue within 3 months of diagnosis. My concern is, is Covid-19 the highest factor contributing to the rise of mental health issues in the population?

 

I haven't read that study, but did they indicate any reasons? Was it the virus affecting brain cells or people who are ill get those mental health issues because of various stressors (including anxieties about future health from what they read (in this specific case) of long-covid) or something else?

 

or after months of denial, sometimes vehemently, does the embarrassment cause it?

 

Exactly!!!

All I know is that they did but I forgot what those are.

 

There's no exemption on it. We all can get anxiety especially these days but there is a way to avoid it... You'll just need to look for it.

 

This depends on the level of anxiety. Measures can be taken to stop minor anxiety from becoming more serious but stopping minor anxiety before it occurs is not that easy as it can be part of the natural body's defence mechanism against danger (being controlled by the hormone adrenaline) and is part of life for everyone at some time in their lives. But good physical health, avoidance of certain drugs and trying to think positively, can be productive. It may be possible to remove anxiety from our lives but that would require removal of the amygdala from the brain - with the loss of some memory and decision-making function plus the fact that without any fear (anxiety) we would just happily walk into danger.

 

Based on (multiple) anecdotal evidence: taking regular (daily) walks can be a substantial help to get out of a depression.
So, if for whatever reason one sits at home feeling life has dealt them a bad hand, get out and start walking. Even if it seems difficult at this time of pandemic, don a mask and go (or find some deserted place where you don't need one).
I hope to get back to walking myself in a couple months (not because of depression), once my recovery from a broken leg is complete.

 

Excellent advice and it is not only anecdotal evidence for the benefits - this is a good scientific study, but it is rather long:

https://faculty.sites.iastate.edu/ekkekaki/files/inline-files/Ekkekakis_Backhouse_2014_Chapter.pdf

 

I agree, there are different ways to tackle this problem. What I am wondering is if there is a single way to approach this.