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A health care worker in New York City sits on a bench near Central Park March 30, 2020, hunched over and embracing herself during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. (CNS photo/Jeenah Moon, Reuters)
Sept. 17, 2020Christina Gray
Catholic San Francisco
Personal health fears over COVID-19, long-term isolation from family and friends, a polarized political and social landscape, and inability to find solace in public Mass and sacraments are the top sources of stress and anxiety for Catholic San Francisco readers in 2020.
The paper sent a four-question, open-ended survey to its nearly 5,000 digital newsletter subscribers Sept. 11 seeking insight into how local Catholics are coping with a pileup of concurring realities in 2020. This includes the coronavirus pandemic, which is now in its sixth month and has claimed almost 200,000 U.S. lives, a crippled economy, a deeply divided political and social landscape, record-breaking heat waves, wildfires and smoke-clogged skies.
Almost 200 people responded to the anonymous survey.
Respondents were asked to name their single-greatest source of anxiety and stress in 2020, to describe any physical or emotional toll the year’s events might be taking on them, and to share what they are doing to maintain or manage their well-being. It also asked how the Catholic community can better support them.
Isolation, loneliness tops list
A quarter (51) of the survey respondents listed longtime separation from friends and family and the absence of social opportunities as a major source of discontent, even despondency.
This was particularly noted by seniors and other populations most at-risk of severe illness or death, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
One 82-year-old respondent said she hasn’t seen her husband since March. He has been in and out of local hospitals and nursing homes, which restrict visitors to prevent the spread of the virus.
“Not being able to go to the nursing home and see [her husband] has been the most stressful time of my entire life,” she wrote.
Not being able to travel to be with loved ones and remaining largely at home with no clear end in sight has had a despairing effect on some.
“Being alone at home causes me to lose care of myself and my home,” said one respondent.
Physical touch -- handshakes, hugs, holding hands as a normal part of life -- were all mentioned.
“Not being able to show affection has been the hardest,” said one respondent. “Hugs, which are so important for our mental health.”
Several respondents said that differing opinions about the need to adhere to health recommendations, for example, mask wearing and social distancing, were causing rifts between friends.
“My self-quarantine has another friend angry with me because I am too restrictive to meet up inside buildings, plus carpooling or public transit options,” she said.
Political and social division
Fear of contracting the coronavirus or giving it to a loved one was a top source of stress for nearly a quarter of respondents. Self-protection and worry about loved ones was a preoccupation for several.
“I have a fear of getting ill so much that I regret being rude to those close to me,” said one respondent.
“I am concerned for my adult children who have serious multiple disabilities getting the COVID-19 virus,” said another.
Some expressed anger at those actively not social distancing or wearing masks.
“Their lack of cooperation is dragging this pandemic out way longer than it should be,” said one respondent.
"The surge of infection cases is all because some people insist on not wearing masks and insist on not following distance protocols,” another said.
Bitter political divide
The second-most frequently noted source of stress and anxiety was neither health concerns nor the wobbly economy nor educating children at home. It was politics. Polarized political, social and religious views were expressed in frustrated and even bitter terms.
“Living each day under the callousness and lies of Donald J. Trump,” said one respondent in a sentiment repeated by slightly more than half of the 29 respondents who spoke about politics.
Another respondent bemoaned the current administration’s “relentless attacks on the environment, the justice system, science, the health care system, the press, voting rights, the post office. decency in civil discourse and the poor and the oppressed.”
There were a nearly equal number of views directed at the other side of the political divide.
One respondent decried “left-wing politicians allowing the destruction of our cities.”
Several lambasted the “tyranny” of state and local government leadership response to the pandemic, which “illegally takes away our civil liberties, micro-manages our lives, forces us to wear useless masks, dictates to our churches, makes everyone frightened of each other when the virus is not as deadly anymore, ignores the early treatments, shuts down small businesses and allows leftist riots.”
Religious restrictions offer no salve
More than a quarter of respondents said that the closure of archdiocesan churches to public Masses and the abrupt cessation of normal parish life has added insult to the injury of a public health crisis.
“My single greatest stress has been not being able to go to Mass and receive the Eucharist,” said one respondent.
“Locked parish doors,” said another.
Anger was also expressed.
“Why haven't the bishops filed suit to force the opening of churches?” one man asked. “My wife and I are tired of TV Mass but thank God we have that.”
Compounded stressors
About a dozen respondents spoke to the compound anxiety of living with so many dramatic changes and fears at one time.
“There isn't one thing,” said one person. “It’s the unrelenting combo of all of the problems.”
Another said it seemed like “a major catastrophe or incident is happening almost every day.”
“So many bad things are happening that I just keep wondering what the next bad thing will be. It’s that constant worry of what’s next that keeps me in a constant state of anxiety.”
Physical challenges, emotional resilience
When asked if the individual or collective events of this year have affected their physical or emotional well-being, respondents for the most part answered yes and no, in that order.
Most said their physical health was slightly worse now than at the beginning of the year. With more time spent inside, reduced ability to exercise and a tendency to overeat out of stress, many said they’d gained weight, sleep poorly and feel lethargic.
An overwhelming majority of respondents, however, said they are coping well enough, all things considered.
“I come from a line of strong people,” said one. “We cope.”
From another: “These are definitely challenging times, but I have much to be thankful for. I have come to accept that I will have good days and bad days, and that's okay.”
"No, God is in charge and has a plan.”
To be sure, some respondents reported being more irritable, emotional and anxious.
“Although I feel I have been coping pretty well, the crisis has caused me to have feelings of helplessness and even hopelessness at times,” said one respondent.
Poor air quality from the smoke of almost 100 wildfires in Oregon and California drove people further into hiding. It seemed to be a tipping point for a number of respondents who were otherwise coping well.
“This week is reaching a new low,” said one.
Polarized political perspectives again seeped in when talking about emotional health.
“Not knowing who is carrying the virus, I feel anger when I see people not wearing masks and not distancing,” said one respondent.
“I stopped looking forward to the future and find myself hating all these liberal politicians,” said another. “It’s the first time in my life I feel hatred for anyone.”
“I have never felt so apart from those close to me,” concluded another. “The political scene is insane and causing close friendships to wane."
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