Speaking of isolation and mental health in young adults .... what about a 19 year old young man, extremely intelligent and athletic, got burned out with school, took a gap year before college to work and is having an extremely difficult time at the moment. He has been seeing a therapist since he was 15 for social anxiety and depression. Upon turning 18, meds were introduced and we learned that he has hypothyroidism, so he also takes Synthroid.
Back in March he was working 35ish hours a week at a grocery store, had a girlfriend of 3 years, and planned to start college this fall. March 30th he had a bad day and walked off the job. ( I looked back to some FB post I had made in the weeks prior mentioning to be nice to grocery workers, because they were stressed, etc, so I should have seen this meltdown coming). He has not worked since. He broke up with his girlfriend. He talks to his guy friends on line, and rarely leaves the house.
His Synthroid had to be increased 2 weeks ago because of insomnia and other audio- immune symptoms showing their ugly face. Bottom line, this da*m pandemic is affecting his physical and mental health. He is afraid to get a job or go to school. Work from home jobs are hard to come by in our area, especially with all furloughs. Since school started, I'm trying to get him interested in tutoring, but he only wants to do that if he can do it from home.
I'm feeling like he is taking advantage of the circumstances, procrastinating and sometimes being just plain ole lazy; yet, he complains about being bored and is quite clingy to me these days which is unusual. His therapist says give him time. I'm afraid I may not truly understand these physiological symptoms...