In our third year of dealing with covid, the mental health of society has been heavily impacted and none more than women’s mental health. It’s something that most of us never thought we would go through, and we weren’t prepared.
Covid managed to do was put mental health on a global map and showed how many of us have genuinely been affected by its impact. It exposed the stigma and made us see that there’s a problem. And in the midst of it, women found that the effects of the pandemic affected their mental health on a larger scale.
The statistics of early stages of covid on women’s mental health
Covid has had a significant impact on us all and has cemented us in history on the pandemic list. With shutdowns around the world, we found ourselves unsure of what would happen. And many found themselves working from home while having to take care of the household at the same time.
Studies show that 4 out of 10 adults in the U.S. reported experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety during this pandemic. That’s an increase compared to the 1 out of 10 adults the year before the pandemic.
However, women have mentally felt the burden of this pandemic at an alarming rate. It’s reported that 27% of women over 10% of men showed an increase in challenges that were associated with mental illness.
And many of the contributing factors have been due to having their household turned upside down. The balance of work and taking care of the home was combined. Women, more than men, found themselves stressed beyond the limits of taking care of those around them while trying to keep their jobs.
This doesn’t mean that men didn’t experience a similar effect. Yet, in today’s society, women are seen as the caregivers, the nurturing gender, and therefore expected to be more involved in keeping the household running.
The struggles women’s mental health faced during the early stages of Covid
Many women had to juggle the task of the workforce with becoming teachers homeschooling their children. And if that wasn’t enough, they often had to take on the task of tending to sick relatives as well. There weren’t enough hours in the day for the sudden combination of working from home and dealing with family at the same time.
It was a responsibility for so many working women, especially working single moms, became a struggle to figure out in the beginning. Aside from the household and work, the worry of sustaining financial support became a growth factor as the economy struggled. This meant that self-care had to take a back seat, and the longevity of these sudden issues turned into a serious effect on their mental health.
For stay-at-home moms, the daily run of the home was extended due to the closing of schools. Many mothers took on the responsibilities of helping with homework, providing the proper needs for schooling at home, and taking more of an active role.
And for pregnant women and new moms, the worry of vaccines and covid brought on extra stress and worry. In a time when mom and baby are both in need of extra care, it turned into the worry of possibly catching covid and its long-term effects.
The lasting effects of regularly taking on this much multitasking have led to an uptake in depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. And for those already experiencing these illnesses before covid, it only escalated symptoms even more.
How can we turn women’s mental health around in the aftermath
While trauma has hit on a global level, taking care of mental health remains the same. The issue is not the steps but more of getting the help needed. As we find ourselves living with covid in our everyday lives, society is starting to get back to a new normal.
This is great news because it means that services that were put on hold because of quarantine are slowly being offered again. However, there are always things you can do on your own to help improve your mental health as you return to regular schedules.
Prioritize your mental health
Although the numbers in many places have gone down, we may be heading into stable living again. And this is the perfect time to start prioritizing your mental health. You can begin by taking time out of your day to visit the things affecting you mentally.
Jot it down, talk to someone you trust, or say it aloud to yourself. Try taking fifteen minutes or so to address what it is you’re struggling with each day. You may also want to track certain things, such as your daily habits, personal routines, and activities. This will give you a visual idea of what you are going through and develop better practices.
Partake in self-care practices
Mental health and self-care go hand and hand because both deal with taking care of yourself. While you may feel there’s no time for it, making time to tend to your personal needs is highly important towards improving your mental health.
Practice both skin and emotional care by doing the things that bring you joy. Whether it’s an hour or ten minutes out of the day, take the time to improve on yourself, such as facials pedicures, read your favorite book, listen to your favorite music, or even take walks every day. And when affordable, treat yourself to a dinner date or spa day for one.
Find a women’s mental health support group
One thing is for sure and that is we’ve all experienced similar things. By finding a women’s support group in your neighborhood, you have the opportunity to share as well as learn from others and how they cope with the stresses of being a woman in the pandemic.
Building connections through similar situations will allow you the support you need. You’ll be able to relate to others because they know what you’re going through.
Talk to a professional
There’s nothing more effective than talking to a professional about your mental health. And finding a therapist or psychiatrist gives you that listening ear while providing non-bias advice for what you’re experiencing.
Conclusion
As women, we often find ourselves putting others first, which can impact our health, which we experienced during this pandemic. Women from all backgrounds have experienced an overwhelming level of neglect regarding mental health during the pandemic.
Women may be built to take on a lot and are often seen as great multitaskers. However, managing their mental health is always a top priority and should never be taken lightly.
As a woman, what effects has the pandemic had on you? Share your experiences. Feel free to share tips on how you are coping with the pandemic in the comments below.
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Until next time, this is Tammy saying keep strong, keep positive. And NOTHING’s Impossible!!!
