A RAPHOE pharmacist has said she has seen a rise in the number of people struggling to cope in the aftermath of lockdowns.

Margaret O’Doherty, of Raphoe Pharmacy, said mothers and young people returning to school are among the cohort of people feeling most anxious.

Ms O’Doherty was speaking to the Donegal News yesterday as sales of over-the-counter medication to enhance sleep, calm and mood have jumped by 108 per cent in Irish pharmacies in the second quarter of this year. Sales in vitamins and tonics also rose strongly, rising 19 per cent over the same time period, according to the quarterly Pharmacy Pulse Survey by sector experts Fitzgerald Power.

The sharp uptake in the calm, sleep and mood enhancing categories suggest the strain of lockdowns has left people seeking coping mechanisms.

Ms O’Doherty said as life is returning to some normalcy, not everyone is adapting.

“There has definitely been a lot of people asking me about these things, with having problems sleeping and not coping in general. For such a length of time people coped for a time but the situation has been going on for a lot longer than people anticipated, and for some people seeing the light at the end of the tunnel is difficult.”

Ms O’Doherty said a return to decision making is causing some people to have feelings of anxiety.

“For a long time people had nowhere to go and didn’t have any decisions to make. Now, with a return to some kind or normality and having decisions to make, no matter how small or otherwise, it is causing anxiety for some.

“People have got out of the habit of meeting up with other people because for so long we couldn’t do that. Even things like going indoor dining are different with people having to remember their face covering, their Covid Cert and things like that. It almost takes the joy out of it.”

Ms O’Doherty said that while across the board many people are struggling, she said mothers with school-aged children and elderly parents to care for and young people returning to school are among those experiencing the most anxiety.

“They are finding the thought of mixing again quite tough. Their confidence has been knocked.”

Pharmacies played a vital role in the community during lockdown and continue to do so.  Ms O’Doherty stressed that help is always at hand.

“The most important thing to remember is that everyone is feeling the same and it is very important to talk and seek help,  and for people to realise they are not alone in their feelings.

“This is not a situation you can medicate out of. It is important to know the difference between feeling a bit low to  needing professional help. It is not a clear cut diagnosis but if someone is losing weight or putting weight on or is terrified to leave the house for fear of big crowds,  the first thing they  must do is talk to someone. Talk to us here at the pharmacy. People can talk on the phone if they are too afraid to come in. Pharmacies have remained open all during the pandemic, we have all of the safety measures in place.

“For people who are struggling, pharmacies are a good place to start in terms of help.”