Right Place's Floyd discusses depression, anxiety and potential COVID-19 links

Lori Floyd, executive director of The Right Place, discussed potential effects of COVID-19 on mental health during a presentation Thursday at the Homeless Coalition of Northeast Alabama's annual meeting. 

“I’m really talking more about depression and anxiety, and I’m going to try and tie it in so that everybody recognizes these overwhelming feelings they have been having with COVID-19,” Floyd told those gathered. “Maybe these are some of the struggles you’ve been facing that you may not recognize yourself.” 

The Right Place is, according to its website, a nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to assisting homeless and low-income individuals and families in securing safe, decent, affordable shelter, according to its website. It’s based in Anniston but serves areas beyond Calhoun County. 

Floyd highlighted the physical, behavioral and psychological symptoms of depression. She explained that a major depressive disorder” is something that lasts for at least two weeks and affects a person’s emotions, thinking, behavior and physical well-being.” 

Some symptoms of depression include fatigue, unexplained aches and pains, headaches, withdrawal from others, neglect of responsibilities, mood swings, self-blame and impaired memory and concentration. 

“These are affecting what I call your live, life and love,” Floyd said. “They are impacting your ability to work or carry out daily activities, the ability to be motivated and be willing to go out and do things and the ability to hold down a regular relationship.” 

She said these areas can be affected in pieces., giving a hypothetical example of someone who may go to work perfectly fine on the weekdays but is not able to get out of bed afterward or on weekends. 

“If you or someone you know goes through these feelings for more than two weeks, then it is recommended that you reach out and seek help,” Floyd said. 

She noted that some people are willing to go to the doctor to seek treatment for their physical symptoms, but not as often for their behavioral or mental symptoms. She believes it's because of the stigmas surrounding mental health. 

“When you hear the phrase 'mentally ill,' you think someone is nuts or crazy,” she said. “So, when you or your loved one is struggling with these symptoms, they don’t want to share these things, because people are going to automatically think, 'Oh, I don’t want anything to do with them. They’re crazy.’”  

Floyd said such symptoms should be taken as seriously as physical ailments. “We need to make it where if they have all of these other behavioral symptoms and it's affecting my ability to live, then they should be able to go to the doctor like they would any other time,” she said. 

She also listed signs and symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks, which can mimic the signs of a heart attack. They include chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness and the feeling of being “on edge” or nervous. 

“All of these things are pretty significant,” Floyd said. “A lot of times when we are experiencing anxiety, we think that there is something else wrong.” 

Floyd then covered risk factors for depression and anxiety, saying that, at least recently, she would put COVID-19 at the top of the list. “If you look, it all kinda ties in together,” she said. “If you or a loved one has experienced some type of trauma in their life and never received help for it, then it is going to affect them in other areas of life.” 

Other risk factors include a difficult childhood or history of childhood anxiety, ongoing stress, another mental illness and family history.  

Floyd said people can experience anxiety and depression as young as age 11. “Approximately 18.1% of Americans can experience anxiety and stress at any given point in the year,” she said. “So, there’s a lot of people in the world that can experience these feelings, even though a lot of them will go untreated.” 

Floyd said all of these risk factors and symptoms could lead to warning signs of a person wanting to commit suicide. They include threats of hurting oneself, talking or writing about death and dying, acting recklessly, demonstrating rage and having a dramatic change in mood. 

“A lot of times, one of the risk factors for people who are suicidal is that they’ve been dealing with depression and anxiety for a long time, then all of the sudden, they are not sad anymore,” she said. “So a lot of times, if it happens that suddenly, they have come to the conclusion that they are ready to end this and they are at peace with that, so many times that’s when this is missed.” 

She gave pointers for talking to someone who is at risk of suicide, noting that directly asking people if they are having suicidal thoughts is more effective in getting them help. She said it is important to ask them if they have collected the materials they believe they need to carry out their suicide. 

“It’s a hard question, but we have to just ask it,” Floyd said, “If you have someone you’re asking questions to and they answer yes to the question about materials, then you need to make sure to get them professional help immediately. It means that they have thought about it, have gathered what they need and are ready to take the next step.” 

She also recommended letting the person know you are concerned and willing to help, but to appear confident and not show signs of dread. She said the risk of a person completing a suicide is higher if he or she has been using drugs and alcohol, or has made a suicide attempt in the past.  

Floyd said it also is important to “listen non judgmentally.” She explained that being attentive, keeping an open body posture and comfortable eye contact without fidgeting will help make the person feel understood, allowing them to get the help they need. 

“Do not tell the person to 'snap out of it,' act hostile or start blaming the person for their symptoms,” she added, “and don’t try to cure them. I think a lot of times when we see someone struggling, especially when it’s a loved one, we want to make it better and make the pain go away. So, we have to make sure we know we can’t cure them; there’s professionals for that.” 

Floyd said the biggest priority when dealing with someone at risk is to keep them safe. She said people can do this by helping the person identify past supporters, providing a safety contact number, involving them in decision making and calling law enforcement if the person’s behavior is aggressive or if they have a weapon. 

“Do not leave them alone if they are suicidal. If you have to leave, call someone to come stay with them, but don’t ever leave someone who is suicidal alone,” she said. “Don’t guilt them into getting help or (discuss) your personal beliefs. Make sure they know you’re supportive and that you’re just there to help.” 

Floyd closed by providing activities people can do to help reduce their stress levels and calm down on their own if they are feeling anxious or depressed. Things such as exercise, meditation and having peer support groups or social networks can allow people to maintain help on their own if they need it. 

“If we are not okay ourselves, we are not going to be able to take care of others,” she said. 

If you or a loved one are having struggles with depression and/or anxiety, help can be gotten through contacting 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or by texting HELP to 741-741.