COVID-19 Fatigue: The Value of Friendship

 

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health care practitioners reported a drastic rise in depression and anxiety among members of society. In addition to the classic symptoms associated with depression and anxiety, people also reported feeling lonely, isolated and exhausted. People were overwhelmed by their daily tasks and generally felt less motivated. This is described as COVID fatigue.

 

COVID fatigue is the result of the sudden isolation brought about by lockdown and the associated lack of socialization. It is also perceived as the body’s psychophysiological response to chronic stressors such as the concern of falling ill, worries about finances, distress about loved ones and apprehension of losing one’s job. Given the chronic nature of the causes related to COVID fatigue, the latter can be seen as a type of burnout. COVID fatigue is exacerbated by the inability to maintain a healthy balance between work and leisure, largely due to working from home.  For most, a home is a place of safety and a comfort zone where we can interact with family and friends. Working from home meant that our usual space, dedicated to rest and relaxation, now also became our office and with that, the stressors we previously left at work became part of our safe haven.

 

COVID fatigue has become our norm, worsened by a constant digital presence, known as digital burnout. Digital burnout occurs when one spends too much time on digital devices to the extent that the brain can no longer distinguish between the digital world or the real world. Similarly, the boundaries between the office and home became blurred.

 

One approach to battle COVID fatigue is through friendship and social affiliation. Friendship is considered a hallmark of human behaviour and this bond may be with family, friends, work colleagues, and even our pets. Disrupting this bond can, however, result in health problems. Friendship activates parts of the brain that elicits happiness and joy by regulating the release of the feel-good neurotransmitter known as Dopamine. The COVID-19 lockdown regulations thus undermined, not only our physical health but also our mental health. The social isolation and lack of interaction challenged our friendships, and this contributed to COVID fatigue and neuropsychiatric disorders like depression.

 

Maintaining friendships require access to others, but restrictions meant not being able to see loved ones, not being able to pop into your favourite colleague’s office for a quick chat or have dinner with friends. Isolation and physical distancing defied the bonds we have with people. But we managed to find ways to connect despite restrictions. Video chats, long and frequent telephone conversations, and WhatsApp voice notes became a regular means of ‘being there’ for one another. The quick chat in the office or corridor was replaced by a voice note or telephone call. The weekly coffee dates were replaced by a scheduled video call using Zoom or Facebook room chat. Being home all day also meant bonding with our pets. Whether they be by our side or on our laps, our furry ones became our friends, our work colleagues, and attended meetings, and presentations with us.

 

Virtual platforms and time with pets allowed us to stay connected and to bond emotionally while functioning remotely. Talking to friends or work colleagues or spending time with those who never say a word can help us battle COVID fatigue and improve our mental wellbeing. Ultimately, friendships help us survive. COVID-19 has taught us that even if we could not be there with each other, we will always be there for each other. 

 

Published on behalf of Drs Sonja Mostert & Nicoleen Coetzee