The COVID-19 blues, or depression?
Listen, this shelter-in-place thing is hard. For the most part, we are not accustomed to being with our housemates THIS much, whether you live with a romantic partner, roommates, or a spouse and children. Those who live alone may not be accustomed to this much “alone time,” either. Routines have been turned inside out. Income may have shrunk – or disappeared entirely. Regular social outlets are, for the time being, not available to us. And while we are all grateful for Zoom, for many people it is just not enough to curb the feeling of isolation. As I said, this shelter-in-place thing is hard.
So it would make sense that many people are feeling down, right?
To a certain extent, yes.
Even those with the most robust coping skills, those of us predisposed to half-glass-full optimism, are likely to be feeling the strain right now. It is expected that people will be feeling more irritable than usual, a little (or a lot) lonely, and worried about the economy. Regular routines have been thrown completely off balance. Many people are pulling double or triple duty, working from home while near-constant parenting while managing distance learning for children. It is absolutely reasonable to feel overwhelmed.
But right now, in these circumstances, some people will be feeling more than just “down.” There is a distinction between a normal emotional reaction to an extreme situation and depression. Those with the “COVID-19 blues,” as I’ll call them for shorthand here, will ultimately find their footing, their new center. Those who have crossed over into depression, though, may not be able to see the pathway to their “new normal.”
So: how do you know if it’s the “COVID-19 blues,” or depression?
First, let’s be clear: sadness, loneliness, worry, grief… these feelings are a healthy part of the human condition – for all of us, at some point (or points) in our lives. Most of the time, when we feel like this – and we all do – we can see it for what it is: a painful period that will end, eventually. We continue to function, using appropriate coping mechanisms like leaning on friends, relying on family more, and placing greater emphasis on self-care.
Depression, on the other hand, looks and feels different. Typical functioning feels very hard, even impossible, when you’re depressed. Appropriate coping mechanisms don’t seem to make sense or work as they used to. Some additional signs of depression include:
- Feelings of sadness or emptiness that are persistent
- Loss of interest in activities or hobbies that typically bring pleasure
- Feeling hopeless or pessimistic
- Difficulty sleeping – or the opposite: oversleeping
- Persistent irritability
- Talking or moving more slowly than usual
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
- Thoughts of death or suicide
If you see yourself in any of the items listed above, especially if you are having any thoughts of death or suicide, reach out for help. You may be suffering from depression, which is treatable – even now, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Online therapy, the way almost all therapy is being conducted right now, has proven to be an effective approach to treating depression, particularly when short-term, evidence-based interventions like cognitive behavioral therapy are used.
And if you’re not sure if you’re feeling the COVID-19 blues or if there’s something bigger going on, reach out for help anyway! A licensed mental health professional will be able to help you sort through what’s going on, and can help you determine whether therapy could be of value to you right now.
This shelter-in-place thing is hard, and it’s likely to be in place for a while longer. If you’re suffering, there’s no need to wait it out. Help is out there for you.