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‘Covanxiety’ is making a comeback as COVID-19 cases ramp up. Mental-health experts share tips for managing it.
Giving back to others and limiting news intake are among the most helpful strategies for reducing pandemic-related stress, psychologists said.
By Aria Bendix
Psychiatrist Eva Ritmo received an email from a member of her 20-person book club on Monday: The friend was wondering whether the group should stop meeting indoors due to rising coronavirus cases in Los Angeles.
Such a decision was more obvious during the pandemic’s first year, when vaccines were only a distant hope and public-health guidance clearly emphasized avoiding indoor gatherings. But the CDC’s recent decision to recommend masks even for vaccinated people in high-transmission areas has led many Americans to second-guess their behavior.
The US’s daily coronavirus cases have risen more than seven-fold in the last month, and daily hospitalizations have more than doubled. Though vaccines protect against severe disease and death, less than 1% of vaccinated Americans may still develop symptomatic “breakthrough infections,” according to the CDC.
Many Americans who’d assumed the worst was over — including retail workers, performers, and others required to work in person — are now reporting a resurgence…
