After empathizing with a Reddit thread aimed at millennials, many are beginning to realize they may have been around for a long time. COVID.
Since the coronavirus pandemic began in early 2020, many people infected with the virus have experienced: Long-term effects of infectionThis period can last from weeks to months or years after contracting the coronavirus.
Thanks to a Reddit discussion on r/Millennials, many users on the forum seem to be aware that COVID-19 may last a long time.
It started with a post from a user named u/ResidentNecessary. Over the weekend, the user shared on the subreddit that before he contracted coronavirus, he was much happier and had fewer bouts of severe depression and anxiety.
“Wouldn’t have happened without COVID-19, or was it just a unique trauma that confused me?” they wrote. “I feel very dull.”
The post garnered about 2,000 upvotes and more than 750 comments on the forums, where u/ResidentNecessary said many people recognized the uncertainty they felt about mental health.
“I’ve been through it twice,” the Redditor wrote. “Ever since the second one recently, I’ve definitely not been my normal self.”
“I’m definitely not the same since I got coronavirus,” said another. “For about eight months I was in a state of confusion and now, three years later, I’m still depressed and tired all the time.”
According to , there is a direct relationship between the physical symptoms of long-term coronavirus infection and the mental health sequelae. Dr. Anna Dickermana psychiatrist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medicine.
“Viral-induced inflammation and immune activation can lead to depression, including suicidal thoughts and attempts,” Dickerman said in a blog post for Weill Cornell.
In addition to mental health issues, Redditors also talked about brain fog, memory issues, and cognitive disruption since contracting the coronavirus.
“I contracted coronavirus in November 2021. It was so bad that I couldn’t get out of bed for a week and my husband couldn’t help either,” one user shared. “So I don’t know if the brain fog is due to COVID-19 or the trauma of losing her husband, but my memory has been deeply affected.”
Another redditor wrote, “When I first got infected…doctors thought I was crazy, but my balance was just slightly off.” “What I realized was that I was never going to be able to step over the baby gate at home again.”
They also said they developed eczema after being infected with the coronavirus.
“Forgetfulness” not a medical termHowever, many people use the term to refer to symptoms such as difficulty concentrating, frequent confusion, forgetfulness, and mental fatigue.It is also widely recognized as Common symptoms Long-term impact of the new coronavirus infection almost one-fifth of the US population.
Some doctors recommend cognitive testing for brain fog and encourage people suffering to try the following: identify Understand which areas of cognitive function you are struggling with and work to preserve the cognitive functions that remain.
Other commenters on the u/ResidentNecessary thread talked about respiratory issues and neurological trauma they’ve experienced due to the long-term effects of COVID-19.
“Since COVID-19 3 years ago, I still can’t smell or taste. Life is no longer fun,” one Redditor wrote. “It can be scary sometimes.” They also shared that they struggle with breathing and sleeping.
“The coronavirus has apparently caused brain damage that has caused physical disability and neurological impairment,” said Reditor, 34, who walks with the help of a mobility aid. “I have an unexplained lesion in my brain, and there are abnormalities in neurological response tests.”
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*First published: November 28, 2023 at 7:01pm CST
Tricia Crimmins
Tricia Crimmins is an IRL staff writer at the Daily Dot. She is a New York-based comedian and adjunct professor at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Previously, she contributed to Mashable, Complex Networks, and Moment magazines. You can find her on Twitter @TriciaCrimmins.