Over the past six months, the coronavirus pandemic has affected countless Americans both physically and mentally. While 6.83 million Americans have fought the virus, firsthand, countless others have experienced depression and anxiety caused by burnout and stress during COVID-19. Regardless of whether you’re feeling confused, lonely, worried, or sad, it is important to remember that you’re feelings are valid and natural during the COVID-19 pandemic.
An Underlying Crisis
During the last several months, experts have called the widespread mental health decline the “underlying crisis,” as more than one-third of Americans have experienced depression or anxiety due to burnout and stress during COVID-19.
Of the 42,000 participants of a study hosted by the U.S. Census Bureau, 24 percent reported symptoms associated with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), while 30 percent reported significant symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Across all age groups presented in the study, in which participants’ ages ranged from 18 to over 80, young adults aged 18 to 29 were the most likely to report a decline in their mental health due to coronavirus. According to the study, 42 percent of participants in this age range reported symptoms of GAD and 36 percent reported symptoms of MDD.
A Widespread Decline in Mental Health
These feelings of depression and anxiety are largely due to the burnout and stress associated with a global pandemic and the social safety measures that go alongside it. Seemingly never-ending feelings of dread, loneliness, and loss undoubtedly affect countless individuals around the world on a daily basis.
Though they both contribute to feelings of worry, stress and burnout are two very different concepts. It is important to distinguish which one you are feeling in order to get to the root of the emotion and work towards emotional wellness.
Stress is based on having too much to handle. Whether due to too many tasks or too many emotions, stress can cause irritability, fatigue, and anxiety. Burnout, on the other hand, is the build-up of unresolved stress over an extended period of time. At this point, the pandemic has been raging for long enough that many Americans are reaching the point of burnout, which can lead to complications like social withdrawal, lost motivation, and even depression.
What to do if You’re Experiencing COVID-19 Burnout
Since so many individuals are experiencing this widespread burnout, we must learn how to prevent burnout for ourselves and support those around us experiencing the symptoms of burnout and stress during COVID-19. Contact an Empower Brokerage agent to see if your current insurance plan offers any mental health services that can help you prevent or reverse the symptoms of burnout and stress by calling (888) 539-1633.
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We hope that this information on burnout and stress during COVID is useful to you.
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