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, doesn乌鸦传媒檛 know how she contracted the virus, but she suspects it was from her husband乌鸦传媒檚 work travels.

On March 23, they both began showing symptoms, including sore throat, headaches, and dry cough.

乌鸦传媒淚 was never afraid of getting COVID because I乌鸦传媒檓 a healthy person,乌鸦传媒� said Swalwell. 乌鸦传媒淲e had always been hyper vigilant with wearing face masks and washing our hands. There乌鸦传媒檚 not a lot that we could乌鸦传媒檝e done differently.乌鸦传媒�

As owner of Art Barn Studio, she immediately cancelled her all-ages art classes and notified students 乌鸦传媒� some of who have underlying health conditions. Her main concern was transmitting the virus and implicating fellow community members.

乌鸦传媒淚t was a huge source of guilt,乌鸦传媒� said Swalwell.

乌鸦传媒淧eople have to quarantine and take two weeks off work, so that affects their family乌鸦传媒檚 income. I was devastated.乌鸦传媒�

The couple didn乌鸦传媒檛 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.

乌鸦传媒淲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,乌鸦传媒� 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.

乌鸦传媒淚 would have flashes of traumatic images like patients on ventilators, people dying in the hospital, and trucks full of dead bodies,乌鸦传媒� she said.

乌鸦传媒淚 just couldn乌鸦传媒檛 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.乌鸦传媒�

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 乌鸦传媒� including mandatory mask use 乌鸦传媒� more seriously.

乌鸦传媒淚 just hope that乌鸦传媒檚 something that people can understand, and they might not,乌鸦传媒� she said.

乌鸦传媒淲hen I wear my mask in the grocery store, that乌鸦传媒檚 me saying that I care about you.乌鸦传媒�

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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