It will probably take decades or even generations before researchers will finally have a realistic understanding of what COVID-19 actually did to us as humans. Every day it seems we are finding out more and more ways the virus and its effects have lingered in the lives of many who suffered from the disease over the past two years.

Brett Jordan via Unsplash.com
Brett Jordan via Unsplash.com
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One "side effect" of the pandemic that a lot of people have been reporting is an issue with remembering. The discussion of memory loss is not confined to just those who contracted and suffered through at least one bout with COVID. The memory issue is affecting almost all of us there appears to be a very good reason.

Anxiety.

Taylor Deas Melesh via Unsplash.com
Taylor Deas Melesh via Unsplash.com
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Yes, anxiety can affect your cognitive abilities. That nugget of useful knowledge comes from someone who knows a lot about our cognitive abilities, Dr Rahn Bailey. Dr Bailey is head of Psychiatry for LSU Health in New Orleans.  Dr Bailey told the Louisiana Radio Network this about anxiety brought on by the pandemic.

We have empirical data showing that it absolutely has an impact, both short and long-term, on our ability to remember, to capture data-based incidents, and to kind of move forward with them

If you think of all the things you have had to worry about over the past two years, things like "will I catch the virus, what if someone in my family gets ill, how are we going to afford to pay for basic necessities, how are the kids going to get through the school year", you understand why that happens.  I got tired just writing those items and that's just the tip of the iceberg for most Louisiana families.

The International Rice Festival, Facebook
The International Rice Festival, Facebook
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Another factor the pandemic has played in reducing your ability to recall is that it took away a lot of benchmarks from our lives. Namely, we lost a lot of fairs, festivals, concerts, family gatherings, family holidays, weddings, graduations, and other social events that usually serve as time markers for what we remember.

Since COVID took a lot of those away we don't have them as reference points in recalling other events in our lives. It makes perfect sense. Now, we can't say with any certainty at all that "the virus" caused or will cause memory issues for those who had it. As we said in the opening of the article that might take decades or generations to determine.

Sydney Sims via Unsplash.com
Sydney Sims via Unsplash.com
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But if you are suffering from memory issues, for whatever reason, there is help available and it's free of charge. Just call the Keeping Calm Through COVID Hotline. That number is 1-866-310-7977.

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