COVID-19 and your mental health
Worries and anxiety about COVID-19 can be overwhelming. Learn ways to cope as COVID-19 spreads.
By Mayo Clinic Staff
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, life for many people changed very quickly. Worry and concern were natural partners of all that change — getting used to new routines, loneliness and financial pressure, among other issues. Information overload, rumor and misinformation didn't help.
Worldwide surveys done in 2020 and 2021 found higher than typical levels of stress, insomnia, anxiety and depression. By 2022, levels had lowered but were still higher than before 2020.
Though feelings of distress about COVID-19 may come and go, they are still an issue for many people. You aren't alone if you feel distress due to COVID-19. And you're not alone if you've coped with the stress in less than healthy ways, such as substance use.
But healthier self-care choices can help you cope with COVID-19 or any other challenge you may face.
And knowing when to get help can be the most essential self-care action of all.
Recognize what's typical and what's not
Stress and worry are common during a crisis. But something like the COVID-19 pandemic can push people beyond their ability to cope.
In surveys, the most common symptoms reported were trouble sleeping and feeling anxiety or nervous. The number of people noting those symptoms went up and down in surveys given over time. Depression and loneliness were less common than nervousness or sleep problems, but more consistent across surveys given over time. Among adults, use of drugs, alcohol and other intoxicating substances has increased over time as well.
The first step is to notice how often you feel helpless, sad, angry, irritable, hopeless, anxious or afraid. Some people may feel numb.
Keep track of how often you have trouble focusing on daily tasks or doing routine chores. Are there things that you used to enjoy doing that you stopped doing because of how you feel? Note any big changes in appetite, any substance use, body aches and pains, and problems with sleep.
These feelings may come and go over time. But if these feelings don't go away or make it hard to do your daily tasks, it's time to ask for help.
Oct. 21, 2025
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