Paloma Rey: "Faced with the pandemic, I recommend maintaining a routine".

Psychologist Paloma Rey talks to us about anxiety associated with the COVID-19 crisis.

Anxiety problems are among the most frequent psychological disorders among the population. In fact, in certain areas they are so normalized that people make the mistake of not perceiving them as a reason to go to therapy.

However, situations such as the coronavirus crisis have caused this psychopathological phenomenon to skyrocket in terms of both the number of people affected and the intensity of the discomfort. It is therefore important not to lose sight of the fact that behind the changes brought about by the pandemic there are also those linked to people's mental health.

But... What is the extent of anxiety problems in the context of the COVID-19 crisis? And what can we do about them? To better understand this issue, we interviewed psychologist Paloma Rey.

Interview with Paloma Rey: anxiety in times of coronavirus.

Paloma Rey is a General Health Psychologist and works in Valencia, as well as online by video call. In this interview she talks to us about how the coronavirus crisis is related to anxiety problems.

In your opinion, what aspects of the coronavirus crisis have a greater potential to trigger anxiety problems in those who had already developed psychological disorders before the pandemic?

We must bear in mind that this crisis did not happen gradually, but in a short space of time numerous changes took place that altered our lives and that we continue to suffer from today.

The feeling of loss of control, the confinement we experienced in March and the fear of getting sick were, initially, the main triggers. However, as this situation persisted over time, factors such as uncertainty, the durability of the pandemic, pre-emptive social isolation and abrupt separation from the family and social environment were incorporated.

To all this we must add that, due to this crisis, a large number of people have lost their jobs and/or have seen their income considerably reduced.

This fact has favored the appearance of feelings of hopelessness and anguish which, undoubtedly and together with the factors mentioned above, have favored the appearance of anxiety problems, both in the population with psychological disorders developed before the onset of the pandemic and in people who had not previously manifested psychological difficulties.

Undoubtedly, people in the first group are more susceptible to anxiety in the face of these factors because they are predisposed to psychological disorders.

And to what extent is it easy for this context to lead to the development of anxiety disorders in people who have never had symptoms of this type before?

Whether or not to develop an anxiety disorder will depend, to a large extent, on the individual coping capacity of each person. We should bear in mind that the factors mentioned above together with the uncertainty of the durability of the pandemic may favor the appearance of anxious-depressive symptomatology.

However, the resilience of each person and the quality of the external support he or she has will play a fundamental role in the chronification of these symptoms and thus favor the appearance of an anxiety disorder.

Bearing in mind that in the case of Spain the coronavirus crisis overlaps with an economic crisis from which we have not just emerged, do you think that its impact on the mental health of the population will be greater than in the rest of Europe?

Undoubtedly, although it is not the only factor that would affect the impact on the mental health of the population. Culture, climate, restrictions associated with the health crisis and/or external supports are some of the factors that may contribute to a greater impact on mental health. Undoubtedly, economic instability favors the appearance of anxious-depressive symptomatology.

Therefore, we must bear in mind that all those people who, prior to the coronavirus crisis, had economic difficulties due to the economic crisis are more prone to the appearance of these symptoms and, therefore, to the chronification of these symptoms and the triggering of a possible disorder.

However, we must not forget that all those who have lost their jobs or who are in a situation of ERTE can experience anxiety about the current situation and the future, which can trigger, if they do not receive psychological care, a disorder.

Would you say that the existence of video call technology and the widespread use of the Internet help prevent anxiety problems in a context like this? It is possible that if this pandemic had occurred in the 1980s its repercussions on mental health would have been even worse?

Totally, without access to the Internet and the use of different platforms that have facilitated communication with other people, we would find ourselves with more intense anxious-depressive conditions. Thanks to them we have been able to maintain fluid contact with our loved ones and know their state of health (thus avoiding uncertainty about it).

In addition, we should not forget that numerous platforms, artists and companies made available to the population access to a multitude of online content that favored group or individual leisure, which allowed us to temporarily "disconnect" from the situation we were living.

However, it is important to emphasize that we must make appropriate use of new technologies. The widespread use of the Internet makes it possible to access information at any time and place. We must select specific moments to be informed and resort only to reliable sources. In this way, we will avoid the harmful effect of over-information and help prevent anxiety problems.

What strategies and therapeutic resources do you find most useful to help people with excessive anxiety due to the coronavirus crisis?

The main recommendation in case they experience these symptoms is to turn to a psychologist who can guide them in their process. However, I believe that some strategies that can help reduce anxiety consist of, on the one hand, detecting the negative thoughts that favor the appearance of this emotion, and questioning them.

Generally these thoughts are usually related to hypothetical situations that we do not know if they are going to occur. It is a matter of trying to verify if what we are saying to ourselves is one hundred percent true or, on the contrary, there are exceptions or other possible alternatives.

On the other hand, my recommendation is to identify and accept emotions. We tend to try to run away from them, as they generate a high level of discomfort. However, paradoxically, the more we try to avoid them, the more intense and long-lasting they become.

We must understand that the pandemic is a new and difficult situation for everyone, and that it has meant a great change at the social, personal and occupational levels for all people. Adapting to this "new normal" is not easy at all, we have to adapt progressively and accept that changes are not always easy. It is normal to experience intense emotions such as anger, rage, frustration... they are part of the process and it is necessary to allow yourself to feel them.

At the level of habits in the face of the pandemic, I recommend maintaining a daily and weekly routine and, from time to time, to skip it by doing different things (within the rules, logically).

Plan daily and weekly activities with realistic, achievable, short-term goals. This will help us to have a sense of control and daily achievement, prevent the appearance of intense emotions and help us to find meaning in life.

It is important that in this planning we include daily activities, such as work or study, leisure activities and those that cover our basic needs (hours of rest, healthy eating, physical activity and hygiene care).

Do you think that the general population is still poorly informed about the possibility of having professional help through online therapy?

I think the pandemic has given visibility to a multitude of online businesses and alternatives. In the case of psychology, it has highlighted the importance of mental health and the ease of receiving psychological care wherever you are.

In consultation, the main doubts about this type of therapy have been related to the work methodology. I explain to all my patients that the only difference is the environment in which the session takes place, since access to tools and materials is guaranteed by using methods adapted to new technologies.