Covid and mental health
The impact of Covid-19 outbreak is having an impact on everyone’s lives; it has brought on feelings that some children will have never experienced before. Children will have noticed the changes that have happened in their everyday lives. They will have witnessed extensive media coverage and ‘fake’ news articles. This can be overwhelming, and children will understandably worry about themselves, family members and their peers.
Some children may already have been struggling with their mental health and have been receiving treatment from services. Covid-19 may have caused more extreme anxieties and developed more compulsive symptoms. Others may have experienced panic symptoms and some struggling to sleep. Covid-19 has affected everyone’s lives and there is no certain timeframe for when it will stop.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is the body’s ‘flight, fight or freeze’ response. These types of responses were partially helpful during the Stone Age when there were imminent dangers. As humans evolved, the instinct has stayed with us and other things trigger these responses.
It is a feeling of fear or apprehension of what is to come; like going into an exam or giving a speech in front of a group of people. Anxiety symptoms feel different in everyone and we all have different triggers that cause us to experience these symptoms. Ordinary anxiety can be healthy as it can help motivate individuals and concentrate on a task.