Research professor Brené Brown once said, “What we don’t need in the midst of struggle is shame for being human.” Emphasis on the struggle, this pandemic has tested every part of my being and I know I’m not the only one. It’s normal to feel sad, frustrated, and discouraged during this unprecedented time but what happens when those feelings become too difficult to bear? Mental health care is often overlooked but as the masses face the reality of what is happening in our world today, more attention is being paid to this important topic.
The chronic illness community is no stranger to the subject of mental health. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “People who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 (for example, older people, and people of any age with certain underlying medical conditions) may respond more strongly to the stress of a crisis.”
Personally, the weight of this pandemic in addition to having myasthenia gravis has been a heavy burden to carry for a multitude of reasons. The last thing I need is to stress myself out more than I already do, resulting in an exacerbation. Therefore, I think we can all welcome a little grace into our lives because in the end, we are all just human and there is no one right way to respond to a situation like this pandemic.
Why is it that people with underlying medical conditions may respond more strongly to the stress of a crisis? I can’t speak for all, but I do understand how MG plays a part in our responses.
Quarantining
Myasthenia gravis patients are frequently treated with immunosuppressants. As a result of this therapy, patients can have compromised immune systems, making them more susceptible to other illnesses. Evidenced by the rising cases, COVID-19 is easily spread from person to person, therefore social distancing and limiting interaction with others becomes necessary in efforts to reduce the risk of contracting this virus. Humans are meant to commune with one another, and when we isolate ourselves, we are more prone to feeling sad and alone.
Over the course of these past 6 months, I have only seen a handful of people that are important to me. Even then, I have reduced the number of times I interact with them given this unknown we are residing in. The mood swings are constant; one day I feel like I’m ready to take on the world and not let this virus get me down while other days I am totally miserable after scrolling through social media and seeing others not having to abide by the same strict, precautionary measures like I have to do.
While quarantining is a necessary step in combating this virus, prolonged separation can be detrimental to one’s mental health.
Inevitable Contact with Others
On the flip side, some individuals with myasthenia gravis are unable to limit their interaction with others. For example, patients have caregivers or children in their homes, making interaction utterly unavoidable. Additionally, people with MG maintain jobs that require them to be in the presence of others. Frontline workers have the added stress of putting themselves at explicit risk because their job necessitates caring for others who either have the virus or are carriers.
When contact with others is inevitable, there is greater potential in contracting the virus. This only adds to the existing stress because we as MG patients know that contracting a virus of this magnitude can have unfavorable outcomes for us.
Financial Repercussions
Let’s not forget that people with chronic illness have to constantly worry about their health, pandemic or not. This worry grows when people are being furloughed form their work, and now have to decide if they want to pay for food/rent or pay for medication. The decision to be homeless or healthy should not have to made, but this virus has infected every part of our lives, making us all question how we are going to move forward.
And the list goes on. Our mental health should always be a priority in my opinion, but particularly now when everything is so grim, we must concentrate on what matters in the midst of this chaos. I always tell people it’s okay to feel sad, insecure, lonesome, pain. Give yourself permission to feel. But when these feelings are no longer temporary, it is vital to seek help and take care of oneself. There is no shame in having compassion for your body, mind, and spirit and although you may be physically separated from people, know you are not alone.
#MGA #MyastheniaGravisAssociation #MGADigest #MGStrong #MyastheniaGravis #IHaveHeardOfMG #COVID19 #ChronicIllness #MentalHealth
This blog post was written by Meridith O'Connor, St. Louis Program Coordinator of the Myasthenia Gravis Association.