INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are still affecting people, especially young people, six years after the initial outbreak.
Dr. Janelle Gordon, the WISH-TV medical expert, on Monday evening highlighted the ongoing challenges and provided practical methods for managing stress.
People continue to present with symptoms such as feelings of loneliness, increased anxiety, fatigue and irritability, which can decrease performance in school and work settings. The lasting effects are particularly prevalent in people who had pre-existing mental health conditions.
Gordon said, “So we are seeing individuals present to their doctor’s office with feelings of loneliness, increased anxiety. Many people are saying they’re going to sleep, but they’re still waking up fatigued. They might be irritable. They notice that they have decreased performance in the school setting and even work.”
To manage stress, Gordon suggested prioritizing in-person connections over digital interactions. “If you find yourself being away from others, it is important that not just connecting with individuals across social media and all of the devices that we have afforded to us today, but making sure that you’re actually taking the time to connect in person and spend time with each other.”
She also recommended engaging with nature and practicing reflective writing. “If you’re able to get outside in nature and take a walk, other individuals may actually find themselves having decreased stress through writing down what they’re experiencing, staying curious about what they’re experiencing and finding ways to reframe those experiences.”
Gordon also detailed the four-seven-eight breathing technique, a popular relaxation method. “So relaxation breathing techniques, there are various ones that you can utilize. One that we’re seeing more often right now is one called the four-seven-eight technique.”
She described the process: “You find yourself feeling stressed, maybe your jaw is clenched, you see that your shoulders are risen, then you can actually breathe in through your nose, counting to four and then you want to hold that breath, yes, for 7 seconds. And then you would slowly exhale for 8 seconds through your mouth.”
Gordon noted that maintaining the breath ratio is key, even if a person cannot hold their breath for the full 7 seconds. “As long as you have the ratio the same, then you would still find improvement.”
She advised repeating the technique one to two times daily to potentially see improvement within weeks. If symptoms persist, Gordon recommended consulting a health care professional to develop a management plan. “If not, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your trusted health care professional so we can work with you to come up with a plan how we can help better manage the stress.”
Gordon also mentioned a report from the United Kingdom that indicates a concerning finding. “Yes, so interestingly enough, there is a report out of the UK that has found, again, individuals who had pre-existing mental health conditions post-pandemic have accelerated brain aging on imaging.”
She said that this is an area of ongoing research and indicated that more information would be available on WISHTV.com and in future discussions.
There is a possible link between pre-existing mental health conditions and accelerated brain aging post-pandemic.
This story, from an interview aired on WISH-TV, was formatted for WISHTV.com using AI-assisted tools. Our editorial team reviews and edits all content published to ensure it meets our journalistic standards for accuracy and fairness.
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