The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has altered nearly every avenue of life. From the way we work to the way we play to the way we view the world, virtually every aspect of our existence has been shaped by the events of the last two years.

While the macro-level impacts of the pandemic are the ones we hear about most – economic instability, political unrest, and social inequality, among others – it’s the impact at the personal level that influences our lives the most. One of these lesser-known but long-lasting impacts is how the pandemic has shaped our mental health.

Some people will make it through the pandemic with minimal harm done to their mental health. However, it’s equally accurate to say that millions of people worldwide are struggling with mental health problems related to the pandemic. Most will recover within a reasonable amount of time, but others will experience long-term mental health repercussions. While many will speak with a virtual psychiatrist or another mental health professional, the vast majority will never get the help they need. The list of long-term conditions and disorders will include the following:

Anxiety

The early days of the COVID-19 pandemic were marked by widespread panic and uncertainty. We found ourselves overwhelmed with worry about the future and the health and safety of our loved ones. Pandemic-related anxiety leveled off as more information became available and ways to stop the spread were devised. But for many people, especially those with preexisting conditions or other high-risk factors, anxiety stemming from the pandemic remains an ongoing struggle.

Depression

The global response to the COVID-19 pandemic was a lesson in the limits of humanity. Generally speaking, we failed to live up to the high standard we set for our species by allowing political divisions and corruption to get in the way of controlling the spread of the virus. As a result, many people walked away with a sour outlook on life. While most of us put those feelings aside to focus on the good that remains, some folks can’t shake off a sense of dread and despair. Of that group, a minority will continue to struggle with depression for many years to come.

PTSD

Millions of people across the globe have either gotten seriously sick with COVID-19 or know someone who did. They may even know someone who died from the disease. While we tend to associate post-traumatic stress disorder with combat experience or being the victim of abuse, PTSD can stem from any number of traumatic episodes, particularly anything involving a brush with death or losing a loved one. As a result, thousands of people worldwide may struggle with pandemic-related PTSD in the coming years.

Sleeping Disorders

Extended lockdowns and work-from-home arrangements put many people’s routines into disarray. Many of us found ourselves staying up, sleeping in, and abiding by a schedule fit for a vampire more than a human. With things getting back to normal, many people find themselves struggling with a sleep disorder like insomnia or restless leg syndrome. While not every sleep disorder is a mental health problem, and most sleep problems can be fixed with minor adjustments, others may be tougher to solve. If you struggle to get quality sleep after returning to a pre-pandemic schedule, speak with your doctor about possible options.

Eating Disorders

Extended lockdowns meant most of us were hunkered down in our homes with nothing to do but binge-watch TV shows and eat. As a result, many people packed on several “pandemic pounds” over the last few years. The vast majority will need to commit to diet and exercise to lose the weight – nothing unusual – but some will realize they’ve developed an unhealthy relationship with food and need professional help. Emotional eating and binge eating post real health risks, requiring real medical intervention to correct.

We all know how the pandemic has shaped the world economy, influenced global politics, and forced us to rethink the way we approach public health. But few people realize the pandemic has also had a lasting impact on the mental health of millions of people around the planet. From anxiety and depression to trouble sleeping and eating, men and women need to get the help they need as soon as possible.