The international COVID-19 pandemic and the national lockdown has set us all on an emotional rollercoaster. It is understandable and normal if you have experienced a wide range of emotions during this time. Managing hard feelings like stress, worry, sadness and frustration is always difficult. It is important that we pay attention to and take care of these feelings. A real risk is these feelings tipping over into more serious clinical disorders, like Depression and Anxiety.
Unlike isolated feelings, Depression and Anxiety become persistent emotional states or moods, and generally cause a significant impairment on our ability to do life well. Here are some symptoms to look out for: persistent feelings of sadness or anxiety; feelings of hopelessness and helplessness; changes in eating and sleeping; poor concentration; fatigue and; a loss of interest.
Talking about our feelings is always a useful way of identifying and making sense of our feelings, and then finding ways to process or deal with them. Professional counselling can be beneficial when dealing a with a range of hard experiences and feelings. It is highly advisable to seek professional advise and support if you feel you might be experiencing Depression and/or Anxiety. Needing and seeking help is not a reflection of who you are, but like any other physical difficulty, a reflection of the support your mind and body need because of the different situations and physical vulnerabilities we all experience. As many as 1 in 6 South Africans suffer from Depression and Anxiety. You are not alone, and you don’t need to suffer in silence.
Cipla 24hr Mental Health Helpline – 0800456 789
Adcock Ingram Depression and Anxiety Helpline – 0800 70 80 90