Vivencias de ansiedad por la pandemia por covid-19 en llamadas de urgencias psicológicas

Abstract

La pandemia de COVID-19 ha vulnerado la salud mental de las personas, pero se desconoce sus vivencias. El objetivo fue identificar las vivencias por ansiedad ante la pandemia de COVID-19 de usuarios de un servicio telefónico de urgencias psicológicas. Se realizó un estudio cualitativo retrospectivo exploratorio. Se seleccionaron 20 llamadas de urgencias psicológicas en Jalisco, México (21 usuarios, 16 mujeres), recibidas durante julio y agosto de 2020, con motivo de ansiedad asociada a la pandemia de COVID-19. Se realizó un análisis temático de las llamadas. Se identificaron vivencias de miedo y angustia; mayor ansiedad por incertidumbre ante padecer la enfermedad, contagiar a otros o que sus seres queridos se contagiaran; las formas para afrontar la pandemia fueron el distanciamiento social, nuevos hábitos de higiene, la modificación de sus rutinas de autocuidado y el consumo de información sobre la enfermedad. Los usuarios narraron dificultades con los profesionales de la salud para la atención a su malestar físico o mental.

The COVID-19 epidemic has affected people's mental health, but the emotions and the anxiety-related experiences caused by the epidemic are still unknown. The aim of the study was to identify the experiences of anxiety related to the COVID-19 pandemic amongst users of a psychological helpline. An exploratory retrospective qualitative study of psychological helpline incoming calls in Jalisco, Mexico was conducted. Twenty calls were selected (21 users, 16 women). These calls were recorded during July and August 2020 and were related to participants' feelings of anxiety during the COVID-19 epidemic. A thematic analysis of the users' narratives was carried out. Themes such as fear and anguish as relevant emotions; increased anxiety due to uncertainty about COVID-19 suffering; infecting others or the fear their loved ones would be infected; strategies to cope with the epidemic such as isolation, social distancing, new hygiene habits, the modification of their self-care routines and obtaining information about the disease, were found. Users reported difficulties with health professionals to care for their physical or mental discomfort since it interacts with various psychosocial vulnerabilities of the users.