The pandemic and confinement due to the coronavirus caused by COVID-19 alter anyone’s mood, but it affects those who seriously suffer from mental illnesses. “In people already diagnosed with anxiety (which is a poor management of fear) and depression (which is a poor management of sadness), situations like the one we are experiencing usually aggravate the symptoms,” confirms Juan Castilla, clinical psychologist and emotional intelligence expert In these people, “feelings of loneliness, fear, uncertainty or sadness” make a dent more easily.
Although there are reasons for emotional shock, those undergoing treatment for a psychiatric pathology should know that they can feel protected and have resources and professionals to turn to in case of need.
Castilla recommends, above all, “follow the recommendations and pharmacological treatments that your doctors have prescribed, as well as the general guidelines for emotional and psychological well-being” in the face of this crisis.
Continuity of psychiatric and psychological care
Non-coronavirus medical activity has been disrupted, and most scheduled appointments are cancelled. However, Guillermo Lahera, psychiatrist, full professor of Psychiatry at the University of Alcalá (Madrid) and researcher at the Center for Biomedical Research in the Mental Health Network (Cibersam), reassures patients with psychiatric illnesses: “Currently, most Non-urgent face-to-face medical consultations have been cancelled, but patients are being contacted by phone to check their status and needs.”
Along the same lines, Iria Grande, secretary of the Spanish Society of Psychiatry (SEP), corroborates that “telephone visits” are already being made in hospitals and health centres. Patients can contact the centres where they are treated regularly by telephone, and, in addition, “extra telephone lines” are being set up.
What to do in an emergency
Staying at home is the priority to cut the transmission of the virus and avoid the collapse of hospitals and outpatient clinics. “The patient with a diagnosed mental illness who notices a clear worsening -beyond the adaptation effort that everyone experiences in this situation- can call their mental health centre to request a telephone consultation. As far as possible, we recommend avoiding going to the hospital emergency room,” advises Laura.
The specialist also clarifies that no one has to run out of prescriptions to treat their mental illness: “The supply is guaranteed, and there are no problems in pharmacies with the supply of psychotropic drugs. Instead, health centres renew patients’ prescriptions electronically after contacting them by phone. Therefore, we advise against going to the centre in person to ask for prescriptions.”
Laura is one of the authors of a document prepared by the pharmaceutical company Lundbeck that contains recommendations to take care of mental health in the face of the pandemic and state of alarm due to the coronavirus. In addition to various advice for the general population, specific guidelines are also offered for patients with depression and other mental illnesses:
- Maintain treatment compliance.
- Maintain contact and communication with the immediate family and close friends.
- Maintain contact with health and social resources in the event of any worsening situation.
Other Resources Available
Castilla also considers it beneficial that people with depression or anxiety who live alone “try to increase contacts with more people in the building”; yes, always “online or by phone” to “be able to express what they are experiencing”.
In addition, he points out that there are “psychology professionals in social networks who help selflessly, and there are platforms of professional associations from different provinces created to help at this time” and minimise the negative psychological impact of this situation.
“More than 1,500 collegiate men and women have registered to participate in the different devices that the Official College of Psychology of Madrid is organising “, as confirmed by the institution.
Avoid information overload
Among the general recommendations to face the fear and sadness of these days, such as staying calm and resorting to relaxation and meditation techniques, there is one that the SEP psychiatrist addresses, especially for people with anxiety or depression: “Avoid excessive information; You don’t have to be constantly watching the news.” For these people, peeking into the news daily may be enough.
In this sense, as the SEP points out in its recommendations to face social distancing, quarantine and isolation, it is convenient to maintain the ability to send emails, mobile telephony and other new technologies that allow communication but without going overboard. . “Do not abuse them either and try to read about aspects not related to this topic,” they add from the scientific society.
warning signs
The SEP highlights that people can react in very different ways to stressful situations such as the current one and warns of the advisability of calling your health centre to assess whether they require specialised care for those who have experienced anxiety reactions for more than 15 days. , concern or fear with any of the following circumstances:
- Your state of health.
- The health status of others you may have infected.
- The concern is that your family and friends will have to quarantine due to having been in contact with you.
- The experience of being self-monitored or observed by others for symptoms and signs of infection.
- The perception that you are taking time away from your work due to this process, with the consequent loss of income and security.
- The need to anticipate the supply of food and medical care.
- The requirement to attend to your minors and dependent relatives.
- Uncertainty or frustration about how long this situation will last.
- Loneliness is associated with the feeling of having been excluded from the world and your loved ones.
- Discomfort or anger at thinking that the negligence of others has infected you.
- The concern of being a possible vector and infecting others, including close people.
- The boredom and frustration of not being connected to the usual routine of your life.
- The a greater desire to drink alcohol or consume substances of abuse to deal with this situation.
The appearance of depressive symptoms such as hopelessness, irritability, changes in appetite or sleep disturbances.
