MAYBE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CAN HELP US END MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA, BECAUSE AREN’T WE ALL A LITTLE CRAZY?

Crazy. Insane. Irrational. Paranoid. Senseless. Let’s admit it—the Covid-19 pandemic has made us all at least a little unhinged. Whether it’s not being able to sleep, or stress-eating. Bursting into tears when normally that never happens, or hyperventilating with panic as soon as the car key is in the ignition. Many people are experiencing mental health fluctuations—subtle to more extreme—as they learn to adaptively cope with the new norms of social distancing and sheltering in place. 

On the bright side, mental health issues born of the Covid-19 pandemic are being taken seriously. Discussions and solutions are readily available online via news articles, podcasts, or social media. And to my knowledge, there doesn’t seem to be any public stigma surrounding pandemic-related mental health struggles. Hopefully, this is an indication that people are less likely to self-stigmatize and therefore more likely to talk about their difficulties and seek professional help if necessary. But dare I dream that this open-mindedness will carry over to all mental illness long after the pandemic is over?

I do.

Because now that we’ve all had a lick, sip, or bite of mental instability, I wonder if we can expand our collective empathy and tolerance towards those with hardwired mental illness (the kind that’s genetic, caused by childhood adverse life experiences, or both).

People with mental illness have the simultaneous challenges of struggling through daily activities plagued by symptoms and disabilities, as well as coping with the stigma from societal misunderstanding. Mental illness shrouds people in stereotypes and prejudices of being dangerous, incapable, or having weak characters. Mental illness increases the risk of being bullied, placed in the criminal justice system instead of the mental health care system, and not having decent employment, safe housing, or health care in general. And those mentally ill people fortunate enough to have access and opportunities may still struggle. Perhaps it’s difficulty with maintaining social connections, or battling low self-worth and shame. They may shy away from obtaining treatment. Their “best lives” may remain out of reach.

Certainly our “best lives” may seem out of reach at the moment. And our mental health is being tested daily in quarantine, with anxiety being what most people describe during our telemedicine appointments. 

Anxiety is a complex brain symptom that’s rooted in overthinking. The overthinking blends and blurs past and potential future bad outcomes into the present, automatically spitting out an array of worst case scenarios that shove you into a bottomless abyss of pain. Soon, negative feelings (panic, fear, sadness, hopelessness, anger, etc.) riddle like bullets. The only way to cease the freefall and machine gun fire is to impulsively act (self-harm, use excessive drug/alcohol use, not eat, engage in promiscuity, etc.)...  

Now, imagine that there was The seeds of the overthinking mights sproat as:

All the pasta and cans of beans will run out!

Everyone else is buying up the toilet paper and hand sanitizer so shouldn’t I do the same?

That person sneezed a foot away from me and now I’m infected for sure! 

That Asian person might infect me!

Why did that person get the virus test while I was turned away?

I have to stay on top of all the news so I don’t miss a single thing!   

Most of us, at some point, determine that these thoughts are irrational, and then we change them to more realistic ones. Self-reflection or talking about it with others generally helps with that. And although some of us have already stockpiled on toilet paper, hand sanitizer, bottled water, and canned goods, we’ve managed to calm ourselves down. We’re on FaceTime with our friends and family, trying to joke and hope. That helps us feel a little better. Slowly, we’re getting used to not being on our way to Costco all the time or constantly adding to our Amazon carts. 

For many people, however, overthinking will blossom into overwhelming fear as issues of Covid-19 infection and illness, death of loved ones, job loss, inability to pay bills, etc. becomes a reality. How do people talk themselves down from all of that? I’m not sure if they can. Tangible solutions will be required to help ease those concerns and worry. I wish I had some answers to those big picture issues. 

I do, however, have a suggestion for the mental health issues that will undoubtedly arise from these very real issues. Let’s give it an official diagnosis. Maybe, let’s say, Covid-19 Pandemic Anxiety Disorder (CPAD). People who’re struggling with CPAD deserve mental health support and having a recognized diagnosis can help them receive such assistance. Because, like people with other already classified anxiety disorders, simple self-reflection or venting isn’t effective. Especially if they haven’t yet identified their anxiety as a brain symptom that needs to be managed, just like the wheezing of asthma or the increased thirst of diabetes needs to be identified and managed. 

As with most mental illnesses, the majority of anxiety types can’t be cured. CPAD may be different, only time will tell. However, treatment is going to be similar. Talk therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, can lessen the severity and improve functioning, although it can take months to years of practice to be effective. Medication treatment may be required. And sometimes, intensive, ongoing social and community services are also necessary. 

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought us face-to-face with real danger but also with anxiety. That and, at times, it’s brought out the worst in us—panic-buying, hoarding, doomsday scenarios, sneeze/cough-shaming, conspiracy theories, and even virus-fueled hate crimes. 

Yet, we will get through this. And when we do, I challenge us as individuals and members of the global community to embrace mental health issues with more profound empathy and tolerance. Let’s move towards positive societal change in terms of how we view and advocate for those with mental illness. Let’s use what we’re learning about our own mental health through this crisis—that we want to be treated with dignity, compassion, and equality—and apply it to those with longstanding mental illness. Maybe, just maybe, we can eliminate mental health stigma once and for all.