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		</div><h4>By: N. Orisajo</h4>
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<h4>St. Thomas, USVI&#8211;Two weeks ago, Tracey woke up feeling full of despair and hopelessness. Full of anxiety, she asked herself, “When will COVID-19 be over?” As an individual that likes to research, she searched the internet attempting to find solutions to her question.</h4>
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<h4>Through her research, Tracey found that “many experts seem to believe that we may have to continue physical distancing measures until a vaccine or treatment can be developed.” She admitted to me that she became even more anxious after her research. “I am not sure if I can pay my bills through physical distancing measures; however, I am terrified to resume my life as normal since the coronavirus is killing people every day,” Tracey said.</h4>
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<h4>Tracey is not alone. The feeling of helplessness is a commonality that many of us share during this pandemic. Caribbean people, like others around the world, are constantly reminded about COVID-19. Our children cannot go to school, people are unemployed as a result of it, and our social practices have changed considerably. Most importantly, the loudest reminder is the fact that people are dying from this disease daily.</h4>
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<h4>As the realities of life start to sink in during the COVID-19 pandemic, many experts believe that the coronavirus is having a devastating impact on people’s mental health. According to Benjamin Miller, a clinical psychologist and the chief strategy officer of Well Being Trust and adjunct professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford School of Medicine, mental health illness during the coronavirus is going to be an epidemic (<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/04/08/mental-health-our-epidemic-within-coronavirus-pandemic-column/2939511001/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">USA Today</a>).</h4>
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<h4>Other mental health experts seem to agree. Dr. Lynn Bufka, a psychologist at the American Psychological Association, said that “no one knows how long this pandemic will last, or how long people’s lives will feel upended” (<a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/why-your-mental-health-may-be-suffering-in-the-covid-19-pandemic" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">PBS</a>). Dr. Bufka also indicated that “combined with the stress of job loss, mounting debt, household strains or even not being able to blow off steam at the gym, people may increasingly feel frustrated, bored, angry or confused.”</h4>
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<h4>The Centers of Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledge that an individual’s mental health may suffer through this pandemic and have issued recommendations as to how one can attempt to manage their stress levels during this crisis. Moreover, the CDC and WHO recommend that if one’s anxieties are impacting their daily life or they cannot seem to cope, that he or she should speak to their healthcare provider.</h4>
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<h4>We followed up with Tracey and she said she is trying to manage her anxiety and is using some of the coping methods indicated by the WHO and CDC (please refer to our article on <a href="https://voyagercaribbean.com/2020/04/11/coping-during-covid19/">coping during COVID-19</a>). Tracey indicated, “I don’t know when this will end, but I’m trying to remain positive and I believe that we will get through this.”</h4>
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The Struggle to Manage Anixety During COVID-19
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