Researchers around the world are paying close attention to the lasting physical impacts COVID-19 is having on patients, but one Creston woman is speaking out about the toll the respiratory illness has had on her mental health.
Beth Swalwell, who has lived in town for 25 years, doesnB次元官网网址檛 know how she contracted the virus, but she suspects it was from her husbandB次元官网网址檚 work travels.
On March 23, they both began showing symptoms, including sore throat, headaches, and dry cough.
B次元官网网址淚 was never afraid of getting COVID because IB次元官网网址檓 a healthy person,B次元官网网址� said Swalwell. B次元官网网址淲e had always been hyper vigilant with wearing face masks and washing our hands. ThereB次元官网网址檚 not a lot that we couldB次元官网网址檝e done differently.B次元官网网址�
As owner of Art Barn Studio, she immediately cancelled her all-ages art classes and notified students B次元官网网址� some of who have underlying health conditions. Her main concern was transmitting the virus and implicating fellow community members.
B次元官网网址淚t was a huge source of guilt,B次元官网网址� said Swalwell.
B次元官网网址淧eople have to quarantine and take two weeks off work, so that affects their familyB次元官网网址檚 income. I was devastated.B次元官网网址�
The couple didnB次元官网网址檛 receive any judgement from their family and friends. Instead, they were eager to offer their help and support.
Although Swalwell was given the all-clear to resume regular activities on April 8, COVID-19 is still impacting her family.
B次元官网网址淲hat I do hope is people understand our feelings of dread and sadness as we wait for updates about my father-in-law, who is in the hospital fighting for his life with the virus that he caught from us,B次元官网网址� she said.
Lasting impacts of COVID-19 go beyond physical symptoms
Like many people over the past year, Swalwell felt the detrimental effects of spending time in isolation away from her social circle. Not only that, she also displayed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
B次元官网网址淚 would have flashes of traumatic images like patients on ventilators, people dying in the hospital, and trucks full of dead bodies,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淚 just couldnB次元官网网址檛 stop thinking about it. COVID may not have been as bad as the kidney stones I had a month ago, but the mental suffering of knowing I might have passed it to other people was terrible.B次元官网网址�
Once Swalwell had identified the problem with her doctor, she began to work through it.
It is her hope that sharing her story will lead others to take COVID-19 and the health restrictions B次元官网网址� including mandatory mask use B次元官网网址� more seriously.
B次元官网网址淚 just hope thatB次元官网网址檚 something that people can understand, and they might not,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淲hen I wear my mask in the grocery store, thatB次元官网网址檚 me saying that I care about you.B次元官网网址�
For mental health resources, contact 310-6478 or the Interior Health Crisis Line at 1-888-353-2273 for immediate assistance.
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Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: Kelsey.yates@crestonvalleyadvance.ca
kelsey.yates@crestonvalleyadvance.ca
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