According to the World Health Organization, many people who become ill with COVID-19 have serious health problems after months of recovery. Doctors have already named this phenomenon – “precocious syndrome”. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), more than 50% of people suffering from it suffer from it to some extent.
Psychosomatics and coronavirus
Today, the most pressing topic is the problem of the rapid spread of coronavirus around the world. Some people are already a little tired of this topic, the rest are afraid of infection. Why is it impossible, on the one hand, to treat the disease lightly, and on the other hand, to succumb to mass psychosis?
Statistics every day demonstrate the increasing rate of infection of healthy people. All this leads to the fact that a person begins to “try on” the patient’s mask, more carefully analyzing his feelings and changes in the body. No matter how terrible the virus is, prolonged nervous tension has an extremely negative effect on the health of each of us, and here’s why.
Of course, at the first symptoms, you need to pass the test for COVID-19. You do not need to neglect your health, you can find tests for COVID-19 on the site gentaur, for example. You will be able to do the test yourself at home and know whether the result is positive or not.
Many scientists have repeatedly presented the results of their research, demonstrating the influence of a person’s psychological attitude on the development of any disease and the process of recovery from the illness. All this is based on psychosomatics.
This science is a branch of medicine that studies the influence of various psychological factors on the development of a particular disease.
It is important to understand that the human body is designed so that any changes in it are interconnected. So, the deterioration of the physical condition due to somatic diseases negatively affects the psychological mood. In turn, depression, preoccupation with a certain problem, nervous strain leaves their mark on our physical activity.
This does not mean at all that once nervous, a person immediately begins to get sick. We are talking about chronic psycho-emotional stress that accompanies a person both day and night. As a result, the hormonal background in the body changes, sleep is disturbed, and skin rashes caused by stress may even appear.
The most unpleasant thing is that against this background, the immune defence of the body decreases, which is extremely undesirable during an epidemic. The conclusion follows that the more a person panics, the more the risk of infection increases.
Today, each of us knows how to protect ourselves from infection – observing the rules of personal hygiene, using a mask, reducing time spent in crowded places, and avoiding contact with patients who have signs of respiratory disease. Now it is important to stop escalating the situation in your head and give yourself the right attitude – “Why should I get sick if I follow all the recommendations for prevention? I will be healthy!
Special settings will help you set yourself up for positivity. In addition, one should not take to heart the stories of acquaintances and neighbours about various cases of illness (much can turn out to be just rumours).
Together we can defeat the COVID-19, but only if we follow the recommendations of the WHO and maintain complete emotional calm.
The risk group for mental disorders after COVID ‑ 19 includes:
- patients with severe COVID ‑ 19 with lesions of the nervous system, including cerebral circulatory disorders;
- lonely elderly people, without social support);
- women living alone;
- anxious and depressed individuals;
- patients who were diagnosed with chronic somatic diseases before COVID ‑ 19;
- single/divorced persons under the age of 30;
- persons with alcohol and/or drug addiction.
Why Physical Health Rehabilitation After COVID-19 Cannot Happen Without Mental Health Rehabilitation
Thus, having the evidence base, we can justify the need and effectiveness of a comprehensive approach in the recovery program after the disease.
The results of the study show that the potential problems associated with SARS-CoV-2 relate to mental health no less than physical.
This gives us reason to believe that isolated physical rehabilitation in people who have undergone COVID-19 may be ineffective without regard to mental health factors.
Family physicians can identify and refer for timely assistance to the mental health professionals of people suffering from the long-term consequences of COVID-19.
According to WHO guidelines, the integration of mental and physical health services into primary care also contributes to the observance of human rights in mental health.
Services provided to people with mental health problems at the primary care level minimize stigma and discrimination in society.
And surely, the COVID-19 pandemic and the results of its impact study have great potential to change people’s attitudes toward what has been kept quiet.
Because now have a better chance of understanding that it is the norm to seek help from mental health professionals.
Conclusion
In hard times like the COVID ‑ 19 crisis, it sometimes seems out of control. Normal daily life has disappeared, and the future, according to experts, looks uncertain. But to feel good and stay healthy, you should not only isolate yourself and wash your hands with soap.
At the same time, a healthy diet can be implemented now. It is important not only for our physical but also mental health. Healthy eating reduces the risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. It is also important for the prevention of depression and anxiety.
Author bio
Soder Anton is a doctor of the highest qualification category, Doctor of Medical Sciences, a specialist in the treatment of infectious diseases. He has 14 years of work experience.
