Looking after your mental health has never been more important. We’ve got tips to help you take good care of your mental wellbeing if you’re affected by COVID-19
Whether you’ve had COVID-19 or are experiencing Long COVID symptoms, it’s time to check in on your mental wellbeing.
COVID-19 & mental health
Even if you’ve not been personally touched by a case of COVID-19, it may have impacted your mental health in some way. We’ve all had to cope with and adapt to new situations and worries over the past few years, and it’s not been an easy ride.
So, it’s important to look after yourself and your mental health, now more than ever. If you’ve felt (or currently feel) lonely, overwhelmed, worried, anxious, angry or just plain tired and fed up, you’re not alone.
Paying attention to how you’re feeling and taking time to look after yourself can help with difficult emotions, worries and improve your wellbeing. Relaxation techniques from the NHS can also help deal with feelings of anxiety. Remember, it’s OK to not be OK. It’s important to never suffer in silence if you’re feeling low. Talk to a friend or family member (chances are they’ve felt exactly the same at some point) or get in touch with a charity – such as Mind or Anxiety UK – who’ll be able to listen and offer advice.
What is Long COVID?
Long COVID (also known as ‘Post-COVID Syndrome’), is where a person contracts the virus and then struggles to shake off the effects of the virus. These symptoms vary and could last for 12 weeks or more.
As well as the physical symptoms, it’s likely that Long COVID could impact mental health. So, if you or someone you know is currently experiencing symptoms of Long COVID, it’s important to keep this in mind.
What are the symptoms of Long COVID?
The most common symptoms of Long COVID are:
• Extreme tiredness (fatigue)
• Shortness of breath
• Loss of smell
• Cough
• Muscle aches
However, there are a number of other symptoms you may experience after a COVID-19 infection including:
• Problems with memory and/or concentration (known as ‘brain fog’)
• Chest pain or tightness
• Difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
• Heart palpitations
• Dizziness
• Pins and needles
• Joint pain
• Depression and anxiety
• Tinnitus
• Earaches
• Feeling sick, diarrhoea, stomach aches and loss of appetite
• A high temperature, cough, headaches, sore throat, changes to sense of smell or taste
• Rashes
If you think you’ve got Long COVID, or you’re feeling overwhelmed by your symptoms, speak to your GP or healthcare professional for advice.
As well as living with the physical side effects of Long COVID, you might be feeling anxious, low or stressed. That’s completely understandable.
Recovery from Long COVID can be slow, with a mix of good and bad days along the way. Therefore, it’s important to remember not to push yourself too hard or put too much pressure on yourself. Reach out to a friend, family member or healthcare professional when you need to.
Why do some people take longer to recover from COVID-19?
It’s currently unclear why the symptoms of coronavirus linger so long in some people. It doesn’t seem to matter whether you’ve had a mild case or needed hospital treatment. It can also affect people who are otherwise young, fit and healthy.
Experts continue to work hard to find out who is more likely to get Long COVID, and how best to ease the symptoms.
What Long COVID support is available?
The NHS now has a Long COVID Service and a COVID Recovery Programme. Your GP will ask you about your symptoms, and the impact they have on your day-to-day life. They might suggest tests to find out more about your symptoms, and also to help to rule out other things that might be causing them.
These tests might include:
• Blood tests
• Checking your blood pressure and heart rate
• A chest x-ray
• Measuring your oxygen levels
Depending on your results, your GP will talk to you about the care and support you might need, including advice on how to manage and monitor your symptoms at home.
If your symptoms are having a big impact on your daily life, you might be referred to a specialist rehabilitation service, to help you manage your symptoms and begin to recover.
You may also be referred to the ‘Your COVID Recovery programme’ which is an online recovery programme to support you while you recover from the long-term effects of COVID-19. Once you’ve been referred by your healthcare professional, you’ll be given a unique code to register on your computer, tablet or smart phone.
There’s also the ‘Your COVID Recovery’ website which support the programme, and includes information on:
• Supporting your mind and mental health
• Managing the effects of long COVID on your body
• Managing long COVID alongside other conditions
• Tips to help you eat well, sleep well and exercise
How to cope with Long COVID
If you have Long COVID, remember to take things one day at a time. You might feel frustrated at not being able to do things you used to be able to or finding things more of a struggle.
It’s important that you’re kind to yourself and accept that some days will be easier than others. Life may need to happen at a slower pace for a while, in order to give yourself time to fully recover.
Here are some tips to help in your recovery from Long COVID:
Create a routine
During this time it’s a good idea to stick to a daily routine. If you find your usual routine is too much, make a new one for the time being.
Exercise
Keep active and try to gradually build on what you do. For example, go for a short walk each day, and slowly increase your pace or distance. Don’t push yourself too much – take your time.
Do things that make you happy
Mix your daily exercise with some other mood-boosting activities like phoning a friend for a chat, writing a gratitude journal or doing some crafts. If you can’t do your usual hobbies, take up something new like knitting or reading.
Share your experiences
Make your loved ones a part of your recovery process. Share your good and bad days, or ask them to join you for walks. You may also find comfort in talking to people who understand what you’re going through, so think about looking for a support group. You could even set one up!
If COVID-19 has affected you in any way, remember to reach out if you’re feeling low, anxious or overwhelmed, as there’s always support available.
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