Transcript
It can be hard to feel in control when there are so many unknowns during a global pandemic.
And doctors are seeing an increase in people looking for help to cope.
According to Express Scripts, a pharmacy benefits manager, the number of prescriptions being written anti-anxiety medications has soared.
The timing roughly coincides with states starting to impose stay-at-home orders, which was around mid-March.
Prescriptions for drugs like Xanax and Valium spiked by 34%.
Women saw almost double the increases as men, with usage going up by 40%.
And is not surprising that people are feeling the toll on their mental health.
Most of the country is under stay-at-home orders, schools are closed and unemployment is at record levels.
In a Kaiser Family Foundation poll earlier this month, 45% of people said that stress related to the coronavirus had a negative impact on their mental health.
And in a separate poll from the American Psychiatric Association, nearly half of respondents said they were anxious about contracting the virus.
Another 62% said they were worried about a loved one getting it.
As the country continues to deal with the unpredictable, health experts say it’s important to make sure you are not only finding constructive ways to manage stress, but continue reaching out to those around you for help and support.
Posted – 4.18.20