Covid Era Stress and Anxiety

Welcome to AMSA Wellness's first topic of discussion: Covid Era stress and anxiety. The Coronavirus Pandemic has undoubtedly brought with itself a series of hardships and challenges. There have been over 150,000 deaths in the US alone, and over 4 million Americans have tested positive so far at this stage of the development. Not only has virus caused despair through the loss of loved ones, old and young, but it has also resulted in harming the economy as the country tries to contain the situation by shutting down non-essential businesses during this time of crisis.

Understandably, there has been a general increase in the level of stress and anxiety in everyone’s lives. While there are some who have been affected more severely by the impacts of the Coronavirus spread, all students have undoubtedly been affected in some shape or form. Some of the most common spread displays of anxiety are portrayed as symptoms related to the inability to set aside a worry, restlessness, and a recurring feeling of not being in control of one’s future (Mayo Clinic).

AMSA President, Gabriella Bailon, shared her personal experience with increased stress caused as a result of the Coronavirus crisis: “Personally, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected my anxiety and stress levels tremendously. Not only was it difficult transitioning to online instruction this past spring, but I was scared for the safety and health of my family. They’re all essential workers and some of them come into contact with Covid-19 patients every day. And the uncertainty of the duration of this pandemic only contributes to my stress further, since none of us know when everything will be safe again.”

Surely, everyone has been experiencing a certain degree of unprecedented stress during this period in time. As a member of AMSA, we encourage all members to take advantage of all our resources that are available to you. Even though we cannot meet with you in person, we want to reiterate that you can always reach out to your AMSA board members or AMSA families. Sometimes, simply talking to another person and feeling heard is enough to alleviate the severity of a stressful situation.

For more resources related to Stress and Anxiety, please visit the Resources tab in the menu bar.

References:

Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anxiety/symptoms-causes/syc-20350961

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