At the beginning of 2020, who could’ve guessed that within the first six months of the year we’d see a worldwide pandemic and protests across the country triggered by the murder of George Floyd by Minnesota police? Between the unknown future and the fear of safety, people have been experiencing heightened negative emotions. These negative emotions can lead to poor mental health, for some, could trigger a more severe mental illness episode.
What is social unrest?
Social unrest typically refers to the general dissatisfaction of a group and the ways they bring attention to societal problems. Even if you don’t belong to the dissatisfied group, you may experience intense emotions and triggers based on how the issues that are deeply rooted in the country affect you personally.
Today, the social unrest in the United States has stemmed from police brutality and the murder of George Floyd, a black man in Minnesota. In response to this murder, people began acting out in mass civil disobedience all across the country.
However, social unrest isn’t the only thing affecting our country. With COVID-19 still not yet eradicated, many people are still afraid to live normally, even though restrictions are slowly lifting in each state.
With social unrest and the lingering effects of COVID-19, mental health of citizens everywhere is taking a beating.
In an article about the consequences of mental health concerning COVID-19 and physical distancing, the authors noted that:
Disasters, whether traumatic (eg, the World Trade Center attacks or mass shootings), natural (eg, hurricanes), or environmental (eg, Deepwater Horizon oil spill), are almost always accompanied by increases in depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use disorder, a broad range of other mental and behavioral disorders, domestic violence, and child abuse.
With the added effects from protesting combined with the fear of COVID-19, it’s no wonder that people are experiencing more symptoms of mental illness.
Anxiety
A worldwide pandemic and social unrest are enough to make anyone feel stressed and anxious. While it is normal for everyone to feel a little nervous every once in a while, the feeling of anxiety should only be temporary. However, with the current situation, people have been experiencing anxiety that lasts a few days to a few weeks. If you are concerned that you have developed an anxiety disorder, look for other symptoms, such as:
- Rapid breathing
- Fast heart rate
- Weakness and lethargy
- Difficulty focusing
- Insomnia
- Feeling anxious about particular life events
If you feel that your level of concern or other symptoms are interfering with your daily life, reach out to Alvarado Parkway Institute’s hotline or contact us to communicate with a healthcare professional about what you are experiencing.
Depression
2020 seems like it has been one thing after another with no hope in sight. When people begin to lose hope, they may react with sadness and emptiness, angry outbursts, and a lack of energy. If you notice yourself feeling any or all of these emotions, you may be experiencing a depressive episode. Other symptoms you may notice during an episode include:
- Withdrawal from normal activities
- Anxiety
- Sleep disturbances
- Slowed thinking
- Recurrent thoughts of death
Depression and its symptoms can affect many aspects of your life, including relationships, career, and self-esteem. If you are experiencing a severe depressive episode and need someone to talk to about it, contact Alvarado Parkway Institute for guidance.
Addictions
When things in the world seem scary, people may revert to poor coping mechanisms, like relying on their addictions. An addiction is a brain disease that manifests by a compulsive and intense focus on using a certain substance, even if they understand the negative consequences. Some examples of things people are addicted to include:
- Smartphones
- Caffeine
- Shopping
- Gambling
- Exercise
- Social Media
- Drugs
- Alcohol
There has been an increase in addictions and drug and alcohol misuse from COVID-19 as people lost their jobs, were socially isolated and were fearful of the future. People reach for the same addiction to bring them peace during times of social unrest. If you find yourself relying on something unhealthy and you are ready to move forward, contact a member of Alvarado Parkway Institue’s staff for assistance.
Managing mental health
It’s easy to become overcome by your emotions, and it’s difficult to disconnect from the feelings of those around you. During times of social unrest, it is normal to feel the need to make a change and want to analyze where you fit in what’s happening. While it is good to experience empathy for others and what is happening, it’s not okay for those feelings to lead you down a path of negative thoughts and uncontrollable emotions. Learning to manage your mental health will help you control your empathy and experience fewer symptoms of depression, anxiety, and addiction.
Acknowledge
You cannot cope with emotions you don’t acknowledge. Pretending you aren’t feeling something doesn’t help you solve the problem. If you want to work out your emotions and understand their root, you need to acknowledge that you are feeling some type of way. Saying you feel sad, angry, nervous, or hurt are all ways you can acknowledge your feelings.
Express
Once you understand how you feel, you can healthily express your feelings. Talk to people around you—your friends, family, and therapist and communicate your concerns about social unrest with them. It’s one thing to talk about the events, but you will feel greater relief as you begin to discuss how the events make you feel. Holding in those feelings will only add to your anxiety and harm your mental health.
Stress Management
Managing your stress can help you take control of your mental health. One way to manage your stress is to understand your triggers, specifically when it comes to social unrest. If the news or social media is particularly effective at making you anxious and stressed about worldly situations, turn it off. Limit the time you spend watching the news or scrolling through social media if you know it is going to make you panic. Implement self-care and do things that will calm you. Grounding yourself can help you control your emotions. While it is important to understand what is happening in the world, it shouldn’t come at the cost of your mental health.
Live
Some events are out of your control—especially when it comes to social unrest and COVID-19. Instead of focusing every moment on the things you can’t control, spend more time invested in what you can control, like what you are doing and who you are spending time with. As you celebrate each day, your mental health will flourish.
If you are having difficulty managing your mental health, we are here to help. We at Alvarado Parkway Institute understand how social unrest can trigger deep-rooted emotions and affect your mental health. We offer programs dedicated to helping you take back control of your mental health.
Sources:
Galea S, Merchant RM, Lurie N. The Mental Health Consequences of COVID-19 and Physical Distancing: The Need for Prevention and Early Intervention. JAMA Intern Med. 2020;180(6):817–818. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.1562
https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200508/mental-health-emerging-crisis-of-covid-pandemic
