Psychological effects of the corona crisis

Felicitas Sigrist -- The measures required to combat the coronavirus pandemic are having the same effect on many musicians as a professional ban through no fault of their own. Long-prepared events and regular commitments have been abruptly canceled - and for some, all sources of income have been lost. With the expected economic slump, the music industry is likely to recover only slowly. In this stressful situation, not only economic but also psychological effects are to be expected.

People often initially react to shocking changes/strokes of fate with bewilderment. They then take action to secure their existence until they finally find emotional coping strategies. In this phase of imminent threat, acute stress reactions such as impulse outbursts, panic, anger or grief can occur. Some people develop excessive fears about the risk of contracting the coronavirus and need appropriate psychological help.

More often than such acute reactions, psychological disorders are to be expected in the medium term if the emergency situation persists and little can be done to influence it. The consolation that the drastic measures can be overcome collectively will also fade with the easing of measures. Helplessness, feelings of powerlessness and even unemployment are risk factors for mental illness. On the one hand, previously compensated complaints, such as tinnitus or chronic pain, can intensify. On the other hand, depression, substance abuse and suicidal crises can increase. If those affected or their relatives observe increased behavioral patterns such as circling thoughts, sleep disorders, loss of concentration, emotional numbness, social withdrawal, irritability and difficulty with impulse control, it is important to seek help. This is especially true when thoughts of being tired of life become apparent. The SMM counseling center can make an initial assessment of the problem and provide professional support.

"Crises are opportunities", they say. Many people can grow from crises - this is called post-traumatic growth. However, expecting this in advance is cynical and trivializes hardship. There are also people who are broken by crises. Requirements and resilience are individual. Resilience to cope with the impending period of uncertainty can be demonstrably promoted with supposedly banal everyday habits: maintaining a daily structure, sleeping regularly and sufficiently, eating a balanced diet and exercising - just 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week has an antidepressant effect. Social contacts are helpful, as long as not only the current distress is discussed, but also positive things are exchanged, which steers thoughts in a different direction. It is important to be able to talk authentically about your own emotional state, but to limit yourself to a circle of trusted people. Various methods of mindfulness practice have proven to be effective in dealing with crises more calmly. These teach the ability to focus on the present moment and not allow thoughts of the past or future to dominate and weigh you down. In medical terms, this reduces the physiological symptoms of stress and causes less long-term damage to health.

The break in the performance calendar can be used to review and, if necessary, optimize your own music-making. Have habits, postures or playing techniques crept in that could cause long-term health problems? An analysis with the help of a specialist with knowledge of music physiology is also useful as a preventative measure - the advice center can also put you in touch with specialists for this.

As we have already seen in the two months since the lockdown, the need for music has not diminished. Music enables something essential: contact even without physical contact - a feeling of connection even at a distance.

Dr. med. Felicitas Sigrist

... is a psychiatrist and music psychotherapist and heads the SMM's counseling center for musician medicine. She can be contacted at beratung@musik-medizin.ch.