To think Lockdown will bring on longterm/permanent Mental Health issues

[tttigress]

Bit anecdotal, but I can already see people that were on the edge of MH issues being pushed into patterns that will permanently affect them.

Surely being locked up for 10 weeks will:

-increase fear of crowds
-increase germopobia
-increase OCD
-increase fear of strangers

Without getting into the rights and wrongs of the lockdown, do you think people will still be living with it in 10-15 years time due to permanent MH damage?

No I don’t, this will pass and perhaps people will be better with good hygiene.

It’s improved mine.

Yes I imagine it will make some people neurotic, anxious ext

I suspect healthcare workers who have seen the reality of this will suffer lasting trauma. People who have been locked away with someone abusive and potentially people who live alone but the rest of us, with secure homes and relationships, no, there should be no lasting issues. I am not sure what you think should have happened? Even more people dead?

RE: The comment, 'Lockdown has improved my mental health"

I don't think you will know for sure unty you start walking around a city that is fully unlocked.

For background currently living in a European city that has more or less finished it's Lockdown. The first few times I went out with lifted measures, I was thinking OMG where have all these people come from, I need to get home ASAP and take a shower (I realise the irony, I am one of the people).

Luckily for me I am "returning to normal" after a few trips out (still haven't been on a bus/train yet). But I recon some people (particularly those already on the edge) won't return to normal.

Yes it will. Of course.

I had big issues around hygiene and hand washing as a child (obsessive hand washing/towel straightening) and I can feel it all coming back tbh. Covid-19 is red rag to a bull for me!

I’m sure it will and I think the impact will be high and long lasting. In many areas, it’s difficult to access services and I don’t see that improving.

@Howaboutanewname

I suspect healthcare workers who have seen the reality of this will suffer lasting trauma. People who have been locked away with someone abusive and potentially people who live alone but the rest of us, with secure homes and relationships, no, there should be no lasting issues. I am not sure what you think should have happened? Even more people dead?

I'm just pointing out, that in 10 years time, if Mumsnet is still a thing, you will get a lot of MH threads, where people will say "I was never the same after the Lockdown of 2020"

I have long term mental health issues, with treatments that vary.
I have to say things haven't been that much different for me. My medications been adjusted, I had a big meltdown in week three, but these things could, and have, happened without lockdown.

I don't think being cautious about hygiene, and justifiably anxious about a virus is going to bring on long term conditions such as OCD. My anxiety often feels completely irrational, and my OCD is about a lot more than hygiene and performing rituals - terrifying intrusive thoughts anyone?

On the other hand maybe undiagnosed/unrecognised pre-existing mental health conditions have come to light due to the challenges of the past months, and hopefully more will seek help if they need it.

What I think people have found difficult is that they haven't been taught a range of coping strategies in therapy, have no medication to manage their mental health difficulties, and limited experience of coping day to day.

Our children are different I reckon - who knows what effect all this will have on them in their formative years?

My mental health has suffered massively. Nothing to do with cleaning or being neurotic or scared of crowds etc but being stuck in my house with nowhere to go and nothing to do. I feel like I have no purpose and I don't think I've ever been this miserable.

I had pre-existing mh problems. I've had massively increased anxiety that I'd worked so hard to get under control.

I'm stuck in the house with no where to go and no routine, I'll be living with the effects of this for a long while.

I work in a high-stress environment (usually) and I would say that the lack of commute and the re-connecting with family has hugely benefited several of the people I work with. Their mental health has improved.

It is really no stretch to say that their physical health has improved as a result. However, these are your ‘work hard, harden arteries’ types.

There is no doubt that others in our team have had a different, tougher experience and their mental heath is being negatively impacted.

Sorry to be on the fence but it is not an even picture. Some people will feel much worse, some people will feel much better.

I've never felt so anxious and depressed, and I know so many others are too. One or two friends who were already fairly anxious people have said they're not sure they will want to leave the house even when this is over. Another friend with OCD says it has become much worse, and she's not sure she wants anyone coming into her house again. So worrying.

I struggled with going back out into busy places like the city centre after maternity leave, so yes, I expect the lockdown will have affected me and will make me more anxious about going places where there are lot of people. But I'd randomly have panic attacks when out anyway, so I'm fairly confident I'll manage.

I have a MH condition and am under MH services. Still have a weekly session by phone with my therapist. People like my mate who have no fear of being outside and do many things to occupy themselves are suffering immensely. She had zero issues before, she is now a total wreck. My MH issues were already very much not liking being around people so the world has been living very much how I choose to live. I do this because it keeps me more stable.

I think someone like my friend will recover well and have no long lasting ill effects. But what lockdown may do is trigger something that has been bubbling under the surface. For me the death of my child triggered bipolar, it was always there but my incredibly busy life kept it at bay and it needed something distressing to tip me over the edge. That will be what happens to some and it won’t be long lasting anxiety which will be what people, will assume. it will trigger an underlying condition such as bipolar or psychosis due to extreme stress which is what happened to me.

I think it really depends on circumstances. People living alone or in small, cramped conditions or those with existing mental health conditions are likely to suffer from lockdown, without doubt.

Those on furlough from stressful jobs or working from home instead of doing long commutes may have improved mental health.

My DC are much happier and more relaxed than before, although they are young enough not to miss their friends too much. I imagine it's more stressful for teenagers or only children.

DH and I are both teachers who teach classes with national tests/exams. While there has been stress around managing online learning, the removal of the accountability of results from this year has taken away a huge layer of stress. DH had just started on anti-depressants before lockdown because he was so stressed and anxious about work and he's been able to come off them because of lockdown.

I was super stressed before lockdown dealing with a school refusing child with high anxiety and low self esteem. I was desperately trying to get dd into school and dealing with the pressure of potential fines. She was in the process of being assessed for autism and seeing a counsellor.
Unfortunately we are now in limbo but the whole house is happier not worrying about school.

Depends...i am far happier now and less stressed but understand not everyone feels the same. It's odd but I have never been less stressed.

OP I understand as I too am in a city that had a hard lockdown that is gradually being lifted.

The couple of times Ive been shopping (for things that broke during lockdown) have been pretty unpleasant.

People swerving out of other people's way, masks everywhere, people glaring if you do something they don't like (children are not appreciated by lots of people atm) and the endless washing of hands in shop entrances etc.

I think it'll get better and people will relax. I don't think there'll be too many lasting effects (ie after a couple of years) but for the moment it is not pleasant.

No, or at least not in the way you describe.

Lockdown is a stressor on many levels, and so may exacerbate existing MH problems. Many community teams have been shut for some time and are just reopening, which will be very difficult for anyone trying to manage a severe, acute or chronic mental health problem. Or for people who were already vulnerable a shit ton of stress might induce MH

While I doubt that the focus on hand washing will do much good for people with OCD with hand washing rituals, I think your average person will embrace getting back to normal.

I actually think I will be much more mindful and appreciative of everyday things like seeing family, toddler groups, days out and trips to cafes. A holiday would make me bloody elated!

Depends on the person, I think. For some people, lockdown has triggered mental health problems, or exacerbated existing ones.

For others, it has improved their mental health. I am in this latter camp.

Also, some people adapt quicker than others- to lockdown, and then to cities reopening. Not everyone will struggle. I feel for those who do.

Many people's mental health will be worse. And many peoples mental health will be better.

I have ocd and thought I'd go off the deep end with such a contagious virus, but seeing the increased hand sanitisers, supermarket cleaning stations and people washing there hands. This makes me so happy. Also people no longer wanting to shake hands which I always hated or lean in for a kiss or hug. Yessss, it's all gone.

Now I can wipe my trolley handle and no one thinks I'm a wierd. I'm as relaxed as I have ever been.

Also lots of people struggle with interactions with others, this has been taken all away and the social pressure to be out doing something all the time. Even social people benefited at first from a slower pace but they won't benefit long term.

I think it's swings and roundabouts, in the same way that some people have saved so much money and others have lost everything financially. Mental health will be the same.