Chapter 1: Navigating the Pandemic Experience

Life can be incredibly challenging, and at times it feels like a relentless struggle. After successfully avoiding Covid-19 for nearly two years, I finally succumbed to the virus. This was particularly surprising given that I had a child at home—an 8-year-old at the pandemic's onset—in a country with minimal restrictions on schools and public life.

Two weeks ago, I joined the statistics. It began with a fever that lasted two days, followed by a temporary loss of taste. For a week, I battled relentless coughing and fatigue that left me bedridden. I returned to work a week after my symptoms began, only to experience a relapse shortly thereafter.

For a full two weeks, I felt miserable. Midway through the second week, I recognized that I was experiencing severe depression. Joy was absent; nothing seemed enjoyable, and all I wanted was to sleep. Life felt dull and devoid of meaning.

It was as if the virus had invaded my mind, sowing seeds of despair and hopelessness. This was one of the most bizarre and frightening experiences I've ever faced. The most unsettling aspect was my awareness that these thoughts were not a reflection of reality but merely a symptom of the virus. Yet, it felt overwhelmingly real, as if my body had conspired to make it so.

Then, exactly 14 days after falling ill, I began to feel somewhat better. I could once again smell my baby’s diaper, a sensation I never thought would bring me such joy, and suddenly life seemed vibrant again.

Meanwhile, my wife is still on the mend. She contracted the virus a few days after I did but experienced milder symptoms—no fever, likely thanks to her receiving a booster shot just a month earlier. Interestingly, I had been scheduled for my booster on the Thursday following my illness but fell ill that very Monday.

She is also grappling with similar feelings of depression, gradually emerging from what I refer to as the Dark World of Omicron Depression.

Throughout this transformative pandemic, I have encountered a plethora of information regarding the conventional and peculiar symptoms of Covid-19: loss of taste and smell, altered taste perceptions, headaches, nausea, fever, dry cough, and overall fatigue. However, I have not come across any discussions regarding the mental health impacts caused by Covid-19, aside from mentions of "long Covid."

Chapter 2: Reflections on Mental Health and Sensory Impairments

An old psychology experiment springs to mind. I recall a teacher discussing it long ago, although I can’t be sure if I saw an image related to it or if my imagination created one. Despite searching online, I couldn’t find any information, so I’ll share the details as I remember them, hoping that someone might recognize it.

In this study, participants were given $100 daily to stay in a room where a fan continuously hummed, while wearing a visor that limited their vision and thick gloves. The purpose was to examine how sensory deprivation affects individuals.

If memory serves, the participant who lasted the longest could only endure three days before suffering a mental breakdown that took years to heal. He reported experiencing hallucinations caused by the sensory restrictions.

This study resonates with my experience of Omicron-related depression, as I too endured a loss of smell (even being unable to detect unpleasant odors) and experienced partial hearing loss.

While I am certain that numerous studies have explored the short-term mental effects of Covid-19, I have yet to find any specific discussions on this topic. For those of you who have dealt with various strains of Covid-19, did you experience feelings of short-term depression? Can you relate to my experience? I am eager to learn more about others' journeys.

Stay safe, and may the force be with you.

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