The Mental Toll Of Bed Bugs
January 27, 2020
Why Bed Bugs Take Their Toll On Us
The name "Bed Bug" comes from the pest's most common hiding place, but it also is because these bugs are the stuff of nightmares. You're probably aware of how a run-in with these creatures can turn your life upside down. What you might not think about is this, once the bugs are dealt with and gone, the psychological effects they leave behind can carry on for years. Ohio has four cities
ranking on the list of "Worst Bed Bug Cities in the U.S." If you suffer from any manner of psychological distress regarding Bed Bugs, you are far from alone in this beautiful state.
The Effect On The Psyche
The National Institutes of Health lists a cornucopia of mental disorders that can develop from a Bed Bug infestation. Many of those effects mirror the symptoms of PTSD: trouble sleeping and bouts of nightmares when you do fall asleep, anxiety, flashbacks, even hyper-vigilance, thinking you see the bugs everywhere you go. The lack of rest and insomnia only compounds a person's stress levels. The lack of sleep and stress can lead to poor eating choices and weight gain and things spiral faster than the Bed Bugs can breed. This isn't something that affects a few people once in a while; the National Institute Of Health (NIH)
says 81% of the people it studied were left with at least some psychological distress after an experience with Bed Bugs that require professional care to overcome.
A clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at NYU, Dr. Katherine Maloy, explained part of the reason Bed Bugs get into people's heads and stay there is because they've invaded what is usually a very special and intimate place. If you're in the middle of an infestation, it's hard not to worry about what it will take to get rid of them, and what's going to happen in the meantime. The process of getting rid of Bed Bugs is not something homeowners can deal with on their own, and that can cause stress for some people too. Once they're dealt with, anxiety about them can stick around for years. Since they were there once and got in without your knowledge, the fear they could come again lingers.
The bites Bed Bugs leave can also cause stress, or PTSD later on. The Ohio Department of Aging
says Bed Bugs bite people while they're fast asleep, targeting any skin they can get their mouths on. The bites leave rows of itchy welts than can swell up after about a day, and become very red. Once thought to not carry any diseases, it is now known that Bed Bugs can carry the parasite which causes Chagas' Disease. It is a serious problem to deal with as it is going on and the issues can remain once the bugs have been eradicated. You may start to think any bite at all is a sign of Bed Bugs, even if the bites are not all that similar. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says some people's quality of life was so reduced, they even resorted to ingesting insecticides to try to ward off the bugs.
Society's View Of Bed Bugs
There are also social stigmas to deal with: some people think Bed Bugs imply someone keeps a dirty home or has poor hygiene. That is not at all true. There is no discrimination across social, economic, or racial boundaries. Bed Bugs can hitch a ride in your clothing or purse from anywhere and hop off the second you walk in the door. Animals can bring them in, too, and the bugs will spread to even the cleanest of households. Everyday Health
reports some people withdraw from their social circles after getting Bed Bugs as they are worried people will fear them, and that they can spread the infestation to other homes. That can lead to depression and anxiety if it goes on for too long.
Ease Your Mind
"Restoring Your Peace of Mind," is our motto, and we aim to stick by it. If you do have a problem with Bed Bugs, Restoration Pest Management will be patient and understanding, making sure to listen to what you are experiencing. We will make sure to walk you through every step of the process, so you don't have to feel stressed, wondering what's to come. Our Bed Bug elimination service is state-of-the-art, and it's as fast as it is effective, so you can get back to your normal day-to-day right away, and get a restful night's sleep knowing you are in the hands of the best pest control company in Ohio.
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