COVID Mental Health

How Panic Attacks and Anxiety Have Increased Since COVID-19

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, rates of panic attacks and anxiety have surged globally. The pandemic introduced a host of new challenges—uncertainty about health, job security, social isolation, and a dramatic shift in daily routines—which have compounded existing stressors and led to a mental health crisis. Understanding why anxiety has increased since COVID-19 requires looking at both social factors and the internal effects the pandemic has had on our bodies and minds.

Internal and Biological Reasons for Increased Anxiety

1. Chemical Imbalance Due to Prolonged Stress:
   When faced with chronic stress, as experienced during the pandemic, the body releases higher levels of cortisol, the primary stress hormone. Prolonged elevated cortisol levels disrupt the balance of chemicals like serotonin and dopamine, which are essential for mood regulation. This imbalance can lead to heightened anxiety, panic attacks, and even depression. Over time, continuous stress overloads the body, making it harder to return to a calm baseline.

2. Dysregulation of the Fight-or-Flight Response:
   The body's fight-or-flight response, designed to protect us in life-threatening situations, became hyperactive during the pandemic. People began to perceive even normal activities, like going to the grocery store or leaving the house, as potential threats. The constant activation of this survival mechanism kept the nervous system in a state of high alert, leading to anxiety and, in some cases, panic attacks. Over time, this can cause generalized anxiety, where the fight-or-flight response is triggered by less and less significant stressors.

3. Increased Sensitivity to Bodily Sensations:
   Many people became more attuned to physical symptoms, like shortness of breath, muscle tension, or heart palpitations, which are also common signs of anxiety and panic attacks. With COVID-19 causing respiratory symptoms, the fear of infection led many to misinterpret normal bodily sensations as signs of the virus. This heightened awareness of the body’s internal signals can lead to health anxiety or even trigger panic attacks when these symptoms are mistaken for something more severe.

Emotional Impact and the Mental Health Toll

1. Grief and Loss:
   Whether due to the loss of loved ones, missed milestones, or the general disruption of life as we knew it, the pandemic brought about a collective sense of grief. This emotional weight has compounded feelings of helplessness and sadness, often leading to anxiety and panic attacks. The emotional toll of grieving, even when it’s not tied to a direct personal loss, can have profound effects on mental health.

2. Lack of Control and Predictability:
   One of the most anxiety-provoking aspects of the pandemic was the loss of control. Daily routines were thrown into chaos, future plans became uncertain, and many of the things people relied on for stability—work, social life, hobbies—were suddenly unavailable or dramatically changed. This lack of predictability fueled emotional distress, and the inability to control external circumstances often manifested in heightened internal anxiety.

3. Exhaustion and Burnout:
   Many people experienced mental and emotional exhaustion from trying to manage the constant demands of the pandemic. The effort to adapt to new work environments, support children through remote learning, and maintain household stability, all while managing personal fears and uncertainties, left many feeling burnt out. Burnout is closely linked to anxiety, as the body and mind become too depleted to cope effectively with stress.

Social Reasons for Increased Panic Attacks and Anxiety

1. Fear of Illness and Death:
   The constant threat of COVID-19 infection, along with the fear of severe illness or death for oneself or loved ones, has heightened anxiety levels. Many people were overwhelmed by the daily reports of rising death tolls and shifting information about the virus. This ongoing fear triggered hypervigilance and increased worry, common contributors to anxiety and panic attacks.

2. Social Isolation and Loneliness:
   Lockdowns and social distancing measures, though necessary, led to widespread isolation. Social interaction is a key part of mental health; without it, people experienced intense feelings of loneliness. Human beings are inherently social, and prolonged isolation can amplify feelings of depression, anxiety, and emotional instability. For many, the loss of in-person connection led to increased anxiety about maintaining relationships and a heightened sense of disconnection from support systems.

3. Economic Uncertainty and Job Loss:
   Millions faced job loss or economic instability due to the pandemic, leading to financial strain and uncertainty about the future. This pressure created chronic stress, with many worrying about paying bills, supporting their families, or finding new employment. The economic fallout of the pandemic contributed to a sense of helplessness, fueling anxiety and stress-related disorders.

4. Uncertainty and Information Overload:
   Constant updates from the media and changing guidelines about the virus caused confusion and anxiety. The unpredictability of the pandemic, from the emergence of new variants to debates about vaccines and public safety measures, has left many people feeling overwhelmed and unsure of what to believe. This constant bombardment of information made it difficult to feel in control, spiking anxiety levels as individuals tried to navigate an ever-changing world.

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a surge in panic attacks and anxiety due to a combination of social stressors, like isolation and economic uncertainty, and internal factors, such as chemical imbalances and heightened stress responses. Emotionally, the loss of control, grief, and chronic stress have left many struggling to manage their mental health. Understanding the root causes of this anxiety epidemic can help individuals seek appropriate support and resources to cope and heal.

Why The Increase In Panic & Anxiety Over Depression?

The significant increase in panic attacks and anxiety specifically, compared to other mental health symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic, can be attributed to several unique factors. Anxiety, in particular, thrives in environments where uncertainty, fear, and the feeling of being out of control are pervasive—conditions that were widespread during the pandemic. Here’s why these specific symptoms have surged more than others:

1. Fear of Immediate Threat (Health Anxiety)

Unlike other mental health issues, panic attacks and anxiety are often triggered by perceived threats—both real and imagined. The pandemic introduced a constant, invisible threat in the form of the virus itself. People became hyper-focused on their health and bodily sensations, interpreting normal physical symptoms (such as shortness of breath or fatigue) as signs of COVID-19. This heightened health anxiety led to more frequent panic attacks, as individuals feared contracting or dying from the virus.

The nature of panic attacks often involves intense physical sensations, such as heart palpitations, dizziness, or difficulty breathing—symptoms that overlap with COVID-19 respiratory symptoms. As a result, many people who were previously predisposed to anxiety experienced increased sensitivity to bodily sensations, triggering panic attacks even when there was no actual threat.

2. Uncertainty and Lack of Control

Anxiety is deeply tied to uncertainty, and during the pandemic, uncertainty became the norm. People didn’t know how long lockdowns would last, when vaccines would be available, whether their jobs were secure, or even if they could safely go to the grocery store. The pandemic upended nearly every aspect of daily life, creating chronic uncertainty. Anxiety and panic are the body’s response to this kind of unpredictability, as they are designed to prepare us for potential threats.

Unlike depressive symptoms, which tend to arise from prolonged hopelessness, anxiety is an acute response to uncertainty and fear. The constant flux of information, changing guidelines, and uncertainty about the virus’ behavior (e.g., new variants, vaccine efficacy) perpetuated a state of heightened vigilance and fear of the unknown. This chronic unpredictability directly fuels generalized anxiety and panic attacks, making them more prevalent than other mental health conditions.

3. Overstimulation from Information Overload

During the pandemic, people were bombarded with a constant flow of information, much of which was alarming or contradictory. The 24/7 news cycle, social media, and frequent updates about infection rates, death tolls, and health guidelines contributed to a state of overstimulation. This created an environment where people were constantly on edge, as their nervous systems struggled to cope with the overwhelming input.

Unlike disorders like depression, which are often linked to feelings of withdrawal or numbness, anxiety thrives in environments of information overload. The continuous flood of bad news can lead to catastrophic thinking, where the brain begins to anticipate worst-case scenarios. This increase in mental hyperactivity—combined with the body’s physiological response to stress—often culminates in panic attacks, where the body’s "fight-or-flight" response is triggered.

4. Physical Isolation and Social Anxiety

Although lockdowns and social distancing were essential public health measures, they took a significant toll on mental health. For many, social isolation heightened feelings of loneliness and led to social anxiety. As people spent more time alone or in limited social circles, the absence of normal social interaction created an emotional void that fueled anxiety.

Moreover, when people began reintegrating into social situations post-lockdown, social anxiety emerged as a significant issue. The loss of regular face-to-face interaction caused many to feel nervous or panicked about returning to social environments, unsure of how to navigate new social norms (like mask-wearing, distancing, or vaccine status). For those predisposed to panic attacks, even simple social interactions could trigger heightened anxiety as they re-entered public spaces.

5. Heightened Fight-or-Flight Response

The body’s fight-or-flight response is designed to help us react to immediate danger. During the pandemic, this system became chronically activated as people faced constant, unpredictable stress. The pandemic created the perfect storm for sustained stress responses—whether from health fears, financial concerns, or daily stressors like home-schooling or caregiving under challenging conditions.

When the sympathetic nervous system (responsible for fight-or-flight) is constantly activated, the body remains in a state of high alert. This can lead to frequent panic attacks, as the body becomes overreactive to stressors that might not have previously triggered such extreme responses. For some, simply leaving the house or entering a public space became a significant source of panic due to the association with danger (infection risk).

6. Disrupted Routine and Structure

Routine and structure are vital for emotional stability, especially for managing stress and anxiety. During the pandemic, daily routines were disrupted—schools and offices closed, social activities were canceled, and people were confined to their homes. This lack of structure contributed to feelings of disorientation and stress. The absence of normal coping mechanisms (like going to the gym, socializing, or participating in hobbies) left many feeling adrift, without an outlet for managing anxiety.

Without routine, individuals are more prone to anxiety because predictable structure helps regulate emotions and provides a sense of control. The absence of structure can make it harder to manage daily stress, leading to anxiety spirals and, in some cases, panic attacks.

7. Chemical Imbalances Due to Prolonged Stress

Prolonged stress during the pandemic caused shifts in brain chemistry, particularly related to the production of cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. Chronic high levels of cortisol can disrupt the balance of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, which regulate mood and emotional stability. When these chemical systems are thrown out of balance, it can lead to increased anxiety and heightened sensitivity to stress.

Unlike conditions like depression, where serotonin imbalances may contribute to feelings of hopelessness or numbness, anxiety is more closely linked to hyperactivity in the brain's fear and reward systems. The chemical dysregulation caused by stress, coupled with the overactive fight-or-flight response, primes the brain for panic attacks and anxiety spikes.

Conclusion: Why Panic Attacks and Anxiety Have Increased More Than Other Symptoms

Panic attacks and anxiety have seen a greater increase during the pandemic due to the immediate nature of the perceived threats, both physical and social, coupled with the chronic uncertainty and information overload that have characterized the past few years. These specific symptoms are more likely to arise when the fight-or-flight response is constantly activated, as it has been for many during the pandemic. Additionally, the loss of routine, isolation, and chemical imbalances caused by prolonged stress have all contributed to the rise of anxiety and panic over other mental health symptoms.

As a result, individuals who were already prone to anxiety or panic attacks may have found their symptoms worsening, while those who previously had no history of anxiety have also developed these conditions due to the overwhelming nature of pandemic stress. Understanding these contributing factors is essential in addressing the mental health crisis that has followed in the wake of COVID-19.