Briana Dobra

ENG 1101

Unit 2 Project

Reflective Annotated Bibliography

 

   Quarantine and the Acute Mental Debilitation during the COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19 was confirmed and announced to be a pandemic by the WHO (World Health Organization) in early March of this year. Since the crippling virus was confirmed to have cases across the nation, it sent America into a lockdown, which ultimately led to the downfall and deterioration of a large percentage of people’s mental health. The pandemic has brought about a negative impact to not only the economy, but everyone’s well being as well. The rapid change of one’s mental state poses a few questions. What is the correlation between isolation and mental health issues? What do these mental health issues look like? What are people’s personal reactions towards the pandemic and lockdown? 

Promptly after the isolation had begun for majority of Americans, the nation as a whole began to see a rise in mental health issues, as well as an increase in suicide rates. Mental health issues can come in different forms, and can move on a large scale of opposite spectrums, ranging from non-risk to extreme risk to one’s self and others. Experts are now investigating and researching how deeply affected humans are by this confinement. Dr. Dawn Elise Snipes, a respected doctor with a PhD in education/counseling, as well as a licensed psychotherapist with many years of experience, sheds light on the mental trauma of quarantine and lockdown. Dr. Snipe has furthered her knowledge on how to help those suffering from a variety of different issues, and relays those lessons and messages to her viewers. Watching Dr. Snipe’s videos on mental health have aided a hand in me personally learning different stressors during quarantine, short term problems, reactions, effects, as well as the long term problems quarantine may cause. 

Pfefferbaum, North. “Mental Health and the Covid-19 Pandemic.” The New England journal of medicine 383.6 (2020). 

This article explains different negative aspects of the pandemic such as shortages of supplies/groceries, loss of jobs, closing of schools, loneliness in quarantine, financial difficulties, and even how the stigmatization of mental health issues could have an adverse reaction on several different groups of people. “In particular, people who contract the disease, those at heightened risk for it (including the elderly, people with compromised immune function, and those living or receiving care in congregate settings), and people with preexisting medical, psychiatric, or substance use problems are at increased risk for adverse psychosocial outcomes” (Pfefferbaum, N.). This quote, although evident, shows that these different groups of people (elderly, high risk patients, psychiatric patients, healthcare workers, etc.) may be more at higher risk to completely succumb to debilitating mental health disparities, although science shows everyone is at risk, no matter how small. 

The correlation between isolation and mental health issues shows that there may be several different triggers. Every person in quarantine has lived through some kind of physical/emotional/mental turmoil. Although it may not be apparent, everyone has experienced loss. Loss may be physical (family, friends), or it may be personal (loss of one’s own self), or can be outside of this spectrum (financial loss, school ending, eviction, etc.). This pandemic has touched every person living on this earth in one way or another. The stay at home orders are new to the people living across America, and because of this we can see individual, and collective reactions from different groups. Currently, there is no end in mind to the American people when it comes to long and brutal isolation periods, and this has left very long lasting negative effects on their mental health. 

allceuseducation. “The Mental Health Impact of Quarantine | Life Hacks for Mental Health with Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes.” YouTube, YouTube, 28 Feb. 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVe-fRC0ges. 

The human brain is the most social living organism on earth. The human brain thrives off of social interaction, and in the midst of a pandemic, it may be completely shut off to communication with others. Dr. Snipes, at the start of quarantine, released an almost hour long video with a presentation describing the effects and mental traumas that one can go through during isolation. Dr. Snipes gives clarification about stressors during quarantine, short term problems, short term reactions, short term effects, long term effects, as well as interventions for people suffering. This is useful information for everyone, as it can pertain in one way or another to everyone who is quarantining, or self isolating. 

Continuing, different stressors call for different reactions. The mental health issues can be different, and look different for everyone. Studies show that people that have been in quarantine for ten days or more, showed increased symptoms of PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). Short term effects have shown to include acute stress disorders, anxiety, insomnia, and even extreme anger. Long term effects may include extreme and uncontrollable anxiety, alcohol abuse, and severe dependency issues. Dr. Snipes says “Most of the adverse effects come from the imposition of a restriction of freedom.” When people aren’t willfully quarantining, it can lead to the most adverse reactions. Everyone needs to understand what quarantining is, and how to comfort themselves in a dark and scary time, in order to relieve them of some stress and possible short/long term effects. Knowledge can be of the utmost power, and a video like Dr. Snipes’ can really benefit everyone by answering questions and laying to rest some of the problems people are having mentally. 

Chatterjee, Chauhan. “Epidemics, Quarantine and Mental Health.” Medical journal.

This article gives readers insight on a deadly epidemic that took place in 2003 called SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome). During the year of 2003, folks had to quarantine, much like we have to today, and scientists have recorded statistics of the psychological effects that many experienced, compared to the pandemic we are facing today. The statistics in this article show many people ended up with PTSD, depressive disorders, acute anxiety, as well as several other mental illnesses. Several people are knowledgeable regarding the signs and symptoms of the deadly virus, but what many don’t know are the signs and symptoms of mental illness, which in itself is a disease. It is always a question to me why there’s so much stigmatization around mental illness. Why does everyone know about the physical aspects of sicknesses, but never the emotional or mental barriers faced when dealing with those debilitating illnesses

Furthermore, Chatterjee, the writer of this medical journal, takes an inside look at negative mental reactions and effects of mandatory lockdowns. “The psychological effects need to be addressed to make quarantine an effective public health measure and to prevent negative outcomes.” (Chatterjee, C). I completely agree with this statement. Through quarantine several things about myself have changed, including my mental health. This was the first pandemic I have lived through, and it is definitely what feels like a scary never ending rollercoaster. I never thought I would have to live through a pandemic, quarantine, online school, no longer working, losing my puppy, and unfortunately the loss of a very close family member, all within a few months. I hadn’t known the psychological effects until I started doing my own research. Ultimately, this is why I was interested in this topic, because I was interested in mental health, and had no prior knowledge regarding psychological effects due to isolation, and wanted to know how many other people were suffering as well. 

Anavah. “House by Anavah.” Hello Poetry, 30 Nov. 2020,hellopoetry.com/poem/4128750/house/.

The most important variable in any given situation is the spoken word. Science experiments, and statistical evidence, are based off of and found through people’s personal testimony. One can talk about mental health, and try to paint a picture of what it may look like, but it will never be fully understood until you either have a personal encounter with it, or hear it from someone who has lived through it. In the moving poem House by Anavah, we have an emotional play on words that can really resonate with the readers. Writing can be a great outlet for those suffering with mental health issues, and take their mind off of quarantine issues while also providing people with a deeper understanding of themselves. 

The fluidity of Anavah’s poem really puts in perspective many people’s natural reaction to this pandemic, and the desolation it brings. What are people’s personal reactions? In these next few lines, we get the impression of who is struggling with the anxiety, and mental effects of self isolation.

 “My prison cocoons me in the cool autumn wind

Not sure of what danger is out there

War, virus, riots and ****

It’s a crazy world, I am safe.

I question my safety now and then.

My sanity I question more often.” 

The author of this poem compares their home to a prison cell. This is indicative of many things, one including several people suffering at home. This “prison” for many can be domestic abuse, toxic households, and even mental destitution, which can be triggered to be even worse when stuck at home. I can understand this. My family members all have differing personalities and points of view, which can make us all bump heads. It should never be an option for someone to be stuck in an abusive household. There are so many people battling horrible things while being stuck in seclusion, and so many will suffer psychologically. 

Concluding, there should be resources across America for those who were suffering mentally before, and due to the mandatory isolation. Seeing the poetry, and literary pieces, made by people who have outwardly stated that they are mentally ill is very interesting. You can almost feel their neglect and suffering. I can personally understand the misfortune and anguish of these people because I have dealt with anxiety, and random panic attacks before the shutdown. After reading these medical articles I have come to find that people will ultimately come out the other end of quarantine with minor PTSD, as well as acute anxiety, and major depression. This information definitely surprised me. Upon learning the psychological effects of quarantine, the information sat in the back of my mind where later on I realized these effects were much like prisoners put in solitary confinement. This certainly has changed my attitude and understanding towards everyone because I can now truly understand that everyone is struggling in their own ways, and we should offer compassion to one another. 

Mental health is an issue of not only national, but of international significance as well. There were many people suffering before the pandemic, and now even more due to the mandatory lockdown of COVID-19. The acute mental debilitation will not only have short term effects, but long term effects on this specific population as well. This information that I have researched needs to be spread to those that deal with mental illness. Mental illness is known as the silent killer, and can be especially harmful now to those who had already been dealing with psychological illnesses before the lockdown. There are numbers rising due to suicide that can be tied to this mandatory solitude.  These literary works, videos, and medical articles written by professionals should be mandatory to read/watch to those that are suffering with mental illness. Mental illness is not something anyone should take lightly, and those who are suffering from it are never alone. The information researched should be widespread, and just as important as the information spread about COVID. There is an all time high with deaths from this deadly illness, but many fail to realize we are also losing an all time high of people due to the deadly psychological effects of this mandated shutdown. Know the signs, keep track of the symptoms, spread the information, and if you see anyone suffering, offer a hand where one is needed.