The COVID-19 pandemic is responsible, according to a scientific summary from the World Health Organization (WHO), for a global increase of up to 25 percent in anxiety and depression.[1] Adolescent “S,” 13 years old, who lives in the interior of São Paulo, lived the bitter experience of the physical effects of anxiety. In the first months of 2020, as soon as the lockdown and suspension of face-to-face classes began, she even liked the idea. However, as time passed, the satisfaction of not having to wake up early to go to school gave way to deep anxiety.
At the time, S, a student in the sixth year of elementary school, says she felt isolated. Anxiety and the routine of several hours in front of the cell phone generated physical symptoms. Migraine attacks intensified, and even vision was affected. Today, S needs glasses to see more clearly. And the headaches persist. The teenager started her first psychotherapy session a few days ago and hopes to improve. “But there was a certain trauma and a fear of going back to online classes. I'm working on the fact that I've been very isolated this whole time,” she comments.
Young People and Teenagers in Sight
The WHO scientific summary already pointed out that the pandemic affected the mental health mainly of young people and women. Young people, according to the entity's assessment, are at greater risk of suicidal behavior and self-mutilation.
In a Brazilian news clip, there is a finding that adolescents are also suffering more from emotional problems. A monitoring of 6,000 children and adolescents, carried out by USP, recorded that 36 percent of respondents reported traces of anxiety and depression during the pandemic.[2]
Information Obesity
Simone Bohry, a psychologist and specialist in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and EMDR, understands the pandemic really represented a catastrophic event with a strong impact on people. And, in the case of adolescents and young people, there are still many situations of loss.
However, the professional draws attention to another phenomenon responsible for this high incidence of anxiety among the youngest. She calls it “information obesity.” There is, especially among teenagers and young people, a difficulty for them to absorb everything they consume in terms of information, especially in the digital plane.
“We are living in the era of self-knowledge, but what we see most are people who do not have the emotional skills to deal with their own emotions and thoughts,” she emphasizes.
Greater Vulnerability
A strong vulnerability of adolescents and young people is also another factor considered by psychiatrist Fábio Aurélio Costa Leite. In his opinion, a growing spirit of competition, the search for perfection, and a great need to value others has been very significant among the new generations. With the rampant use of digital social networks, this entire problem was potentiated. “There is a great fear of rejection, of not being included in the group,” he explains.
Exits and Paths
Bohry and Leite agree that psychotherapy is the first recommended treatment for people with psychological distress. In the face of worsening symptoms, drug intervention is usually necessary. This occurs mainly when there are suicidal thoughts and depression, irritability, or fear of interpersonal relationships, even in circumstances when there is damage to social relationships.
Contact with recreational activities, sports, and nature is highly recommended for the development of children, adolescents, and young people. It therefore becomes an important support for psychotherapeutic or medicinal treatment. However, for the psychologist, dialogue in families is essential. “It's the most effective way to work on emotional skills and reduce tensions. Dialogue needs to be learned,” explains Bohry.
The specialist also points out that families need to seek education and training on the management of emotions. The idea is to provide a basic structure for children and adolescents so they can express themselves. “I read, not long ago, a study with almost 2,000 people about this. The material exposes that, in order to have emotionally healthy children, it is necessary to spend at least 15 minutes a day in eye-to-eye conversation. Half of the parents surveyed did not do this,” Bohry highlights.
References
[1] https://www.paho.org/pt/noticias/2-3-2022-pandemia-covid-19-desencadeia-aumento-25-na-prevalencia-ansiedade-e-depressao-em
[2] https://www.bbc.com/portuguese/brasil-60162968
This article was originally published on the South American Division’s news site