Doctors Can Help Patients Manage COVID-19 Burnout

For many, the availability of vaccines for COVID-19 has accelerated COVID “burnout” or fatigue, causing some to want to stop social distancing, take off their masks, and gather together again. Experts fear this will lead to a sharp rise in cases if not managed, as even those who are fully vaccinated aren’t 100% protected.

Two American Medical Association doctors, Carl Lambert, MD, and Anna Yap, MD, say there are ways doctors can help their patients manage COVID-19 fatigue.

First, it’s important to recognize the signs. If your patients are excessively tired, if they’re increasingly isolated from people, and/or if they feel a sense of ineffectiveness in life, they could be experiencing COVID-19 fatigue. Drs. Lambert and Yap say it’s important to let them know it’s completely normal to experience a decline in mental health due to the circumstances and to provide suggestions for mental healthcare resources.

Having a schedule is useful to provide patients with a sense of control over their lives. They could set aside time to:

• practice positive affirmation and think about the things they’re grateful for;
• focus on things other than the pandemic that they can control, like their fitness and nutritional intake;
• nurture bonds with their community, even if only through Zoom calls or socially distanced nature walks;
• engage very carefully, if at all, on social media.

Make sure your patients are aware of COVID-19 fatigue, remind them to continue following preventive measures, and let them know there is hope for a healthier and less restricted future.