With the prolonged Covid-19 outbreak, an increasing number of people are facing the “Corona Blue”, depression and anxiety due to self-isolation. 

The Covid-19 pandemic first began in December 2019. Since then, it has completely changed our daily lives. 

Due to the rapid growth of Covid-19 cases and social distancing measures, people self-isolated at home.

All appointments were canceled and meeting friends were discouraged, which adversely affected their livelihoods. 

It induced stress, anxiety, and depression and the overall mental well-being of people have deteriorated by the prolonged Covid-19 situation. 

This phenomenon is what we call “Corona Blue”, the depression and anxiety caused by chronic self-isolation and social distancing. 

Here are two primary reasons why people may get Corona Blue. 

One of the reasons why people may get Corona Blue is the anxiety of getting infected. 

The document published by Map, which defines why people get Corona blue, stated that “a sense of isolation as [people] feel anxious and dangerous worrying about whether they would be exposed to the Covid-19 virus”. 

Another reason is due to the anxiety about arbitrary information. 

What is meant by arbitrary information is the endless amount of hopeless information about Covid-19 on the internet. 

This negative information from the internet leads people to have a pessimistic view of  the Covid-19 situation, causing them to feel anxiety. 

But how do you know if you get Corona Blue?

There are specific symptoms that are correlated with Corona blue. 

These often lower the ability to concentrate or remember, lethargy or lack of motivation, lowered quality of sleep, and feelings of anxiety and fear.  

If these symptoms last for a long time, it is highly recommended to meet a psychiatrist. 

Professor Jung Young-Chul of the Department of psychiatry at Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea, explains how to cope with Corona Blue that is spreading widely along with the virus. 

One way to surmount the current situation is to be optimistic. 

No one knows when the Covid-19 outbreak will end, and as the infected cases continue to rise, people are more anxious about whether they would be infected to Covid-19. 

However, extreme anxiety could give negative stress to our immune system by making us sensitive and exhausting our body and mind, stated in Map. 

Therefore, thinking positively about the current situation is a great way to overcome it. 

Another way is to socialize with your friends online.

Due to the social distancing restriction, meeting friends was discouraged, making it harder to socialize. 

Self-isolation and a lack of social interaction often cause depression and anxiety. 

But, you may still communicate and share time with friends through phone calls or video calls, which keeps you socialized. 

Lastly, people with pathological symptoms are highly recommended to get professional care and medical treatments. 

Even when feeling depressed and irritated, people should all acknowledge that it is a difficult time for everyone and think positively in this unprecedented situation. 

Dustin Kim
Grade 10
Shanghai American School Puxi