Life in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic looks quite different to what it did before:
We are being forced to deal with death, illness and financial stress on a scale that most have never experienced. We have been removed from some of our social support structures and are spending either more time alone, or more time only with our spouses or families. Both can be challenging.
People may respond to lockdown in various ways. For example:
Some people have high levels of resilience and may truly be doing ok.
Some have already been diagnosed with clinical depression and may experience a worsening of their symptoms. It is important for people in this group to seek help if needed, as higher levels of medical care may be appropriate.
Others may be starting to feel depressive symptoms in a very real way and could benefit from interventions to maintain routine and structure. This includes regular sleep and eating patterns, exercise and minimizing alcohol and other substances. Without measures like this in place, symptoms could worsen and have negative consequences.
Completing the PHQ-9 questionnaire can assist you with determining whether you need further help: https://lnkd.in/d_xR2BZ. A score of 5-14 is indicative of depressive symptoms requiring attention. If your score is above 15, you should get help from a professional.
Exercise has been shown to assist with the prevention of depressive symptoms*. Get your home-friendly, goal specific exercise plan on www.bodygoals.co.za. Use the discount code “BabyHub”.
*For an interesting read, see: Schuch FB, Vancampfort D, Richards J, Rosenbaum S, Ward PB, Stubbs B. Exercise as a treatment for depression: A meta-analysis adjusting for publication bias. J Psychiatr Res. 2016 Jun;77:42-51. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2016.02.023.
Article by Dr Jessica Hamuy Blanco
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