The current coronavirus pandemic has led people to quarantine, which has an impact on psychological health.
The (CDC) defines quarantine as controlling and separating the association of people exposed to a contagious infection to evaluate whether they will become ill.
Due to the nature of infectious diseases, quarantine reduces their transmission even if they don’t show any symptoms. It has caused social distancing among people as a way to prevent the spread of the disease and to keep infection rates as low as possible.
Therefore quarantining at home can significantly prevent the spread of coronavirus. However, it does not imply that dealing with the distraction from your usual routines is easy. Managing your psychological health is crucial, even if your quarantine period is quite brief in your overall plans.
How Quarantine has Affected People
On top of the doubt and stress of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, the time spent during quarantine can contribute to severe psychological problems. The main reason for psychological issues is due to the impact of quarantine on three crucial factors of mental health. These include competency, autonomy, and connectedness.
The separation inflicted by quarantine often makes people feel that they have no control over their condition. Also, people feel isolated from others socially due to social distancing making them unable to complete their regular duties.
As businesses are held on hold, social events get canceled, and schools close, the act of being restricted at home can be discouraging. Also, even if you stay at home with your family members, but isolated from external social life can have a powerful impact on your psychological health.
Possible psychological Health Effect of Coronavirus Quarantine
According to the Lancet review published in 2019, past studies results in assessing the impact of COVID-19 on quarantined people found that psychological distress is common both during and after quarantine periods. People experienced the following issues:
- Low moods
- Fear and sorrow
- Sleeplessness Confusion
- Easily angered and irritable
- Post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD)
- Stress and depressive symptoms
- Sadness
- Emotional disturbance and exhaustion
Additional evidence indicates that longer-term consequences might also exist. For instance, substance/drug and alcohol dependency were more common for about three years after quarantine.
Although personal responses to voluntary or mandated isolation may differ, you may likely experience loneliness, anxiety, sadness, stress, and fear. However, these are just normal feelings given the conditions.
Click here to know ways you can protect your psychological health and well-being while dealing with isolation and social distancing.
Final Thoughts from the Recover
Current practices due to the coronavirus pandemic such as social distancing, regular handwashing, including other safety measures, are crucial to prevent role the spread of the virus.
During quarantine, finding ways to protect your psychological health is significant. Besides, research has revealed that these forms of short-term isolation can create harmful effects arising from moods and irritability to symptoms of anxiety and PTSD.
However, keeping yourself busy, maintaining a sense of organization, contacting others on social media, and phone communication are just a few essential methods of psychologically managing quarantine.
