Severe anxiety as a result of a COVID diagnosis

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@ronnieigetakicki, I'm so sorry to hear that getting COVID has led to overwhelming anxiety. You will see from these related discussions that you are not alone.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/post-covid-recovery-covid-19/?search=Anxiety&index=discussions
Ronnie, it sounds like you are familiar with anxiety and were managing it. However, getting sick has worsened the anxiety. Hydration and rest are important. What other approaches have helped you cope with anxiety in the past?

@ronnieigetakicki I often feel anxious and depressed when I have the flu. I've had COVID and I recall feeling very anxious when I was feverish. I have a history of anxiety and I kept telling myself that when I feel better the anxiety will lessen. That indeed happened.

One of my friends who is an RN told me that anxiety and depression can go hand-in-hand with illness. She said she thinks of depression and anxiety as mental as well as physical health problems and these experiences are a way for your body to tell you that you need to rest.

I hope you are getting plenty of rest and are not experiencing too much fatigue. How have you coped with anxiety in the past that might be helpful to you now?

I understand ! I was already worried over everything physical & picked up Covid while on a trip 10 days ago. My fever only lasted a couple of days though ears stopped up & yesterday I went grocery shopping which caused fatigue, extreme. I keep reading about side effects & hoping you & I both get over anxiety. It’s debilitating & my dr said it can take 6 weeks to get over fatigue. Would love to hear how you’re doing now. Thanks.

I'm presently 61 with a heart arrhythmia that's usually fully managed by medication, but resurfaces when I get sick. I also have a lifelong history of suffering weeks of relentless respiratory troubles following even minor head colds. And, in 2020, I was in a downward spiral with major bipolar 2 depression that kept getting worse during the pandemic, and was only brought under control with a medication change in early 2024. So when COVID began spreading, I had a significant level of fear about what would happen to me if I contracted it. I stayed home a lot and, being physically active, got daily exercise on my own, which did ease my anxiety. I got the vaccination as soon as I was able, and have kept my boosters up to date since. Staying vaccinated does greatly reduce risks associated with the disease.

I've now had COVID twice, and from experience can say that the course of the disease is extremely unpredictable. The first time I was as sick as I had been the one time I had viral pneumonia. The second time I was down and up in three days with barely any lingering symptoms. The usual lengthy respiratory issues from colds never occurred either time, which surprised me since that almost never happens.

I caught the delta variant the first time, which was, I believe, still the most virulent form of the disease as of yet. This was at a time when I was suffering extreme depression, and while anxiety had not generally accompanied that condition, it did set in when I realized how sick I was. I was pretty stressed, and the depression didn't help. And my wife was out of town on a backcountry hike in a remote region, so I could not communicate with her. I was home alone.

I went straight in and was prescribed Paxlovid, which knocked it out of me quickly, although I did experience the infamous Paxlovid bump for a single day. However, I do believe it has to be caught early for the medication to properly work. As it cleared up, my anxiety eased.

I'm unsure what variant I caught the second time. Even though it felt like a minor cold, I took the home test on day two. After a rough night though, I could tell that I was already recovering even then, so I just stayed home for a few days and never sought treatment (I'm fortunate to work from home, so it was a minor inconvenience). That was last year, and thanks to the medication change, depression and anxiety never set in.

As far as your anxiety is concerned, I'd say first consider your symptoms. Are they severe or moderate? If moderate, I wouldn't worry too much about death or hospitalization. Furthermore, unlike in 2020-21, physicians now have a lot of knowledge and experience with the disease, and treatment options have greatly expanded, Furthermore, it does seem like the disease has evolved in the direction of being less troublesome in the short term. Hopefully this is the case for you.

If it's severe, rest, rest, rest, take all the medication you have been prescribed, don't miss a dose, and don't stop until you've completed the full run. If symptoms don't improve or if they worsen, get back in to see your doctor as quickly as you can. Don't wait. Either way, get a follow-up appointment. That will help you know how you are doing and assist with the anxiety. Not knowing will amplify it.

Long covid remains a concern. Monitor yourself closely. Checking trustworthy sites (including Mayo), I'm seeing that the percentage of COVID patients who have this experience is in the 7-8% range. So the odds are well in your favor, but not insignificant. Monitor yourself closely, and seek help if you do think this is happening.

Meanwhile, I'd suggest asking your doctor if you can get lorazepam or a similar anti-anxiety drug. My medication change last year (which has been remarkably successful), took a few weeks to set in. During that period I had one last dip into deep depression. My psychiatrist sent me home with ten of them and told me to get sleep. They helped a lot. You don't want to remain on that one for too long, but if it helps you rest, that might ease the anxiety. It was very helpful in my case.

Most important from my perspective, by saying you have a full life, I’m gathering your health is otherwise good. Get outside and move. Go walking if you can, or putter around near your home. Keep a safe distance from others until you’ve been symptom-free for several days, but do interact. Fresh air and being outdoors, along with some measure of social contact, will always improve your emotional state.

Good luck. Hopefully you'll be mending soon. Keep us posted on how you're doing.