Long COVID is a full-person syndrome that may lead to complex long-term effects that can last for years, impacting individuals' daily lives. Research identifies four types of long COVID based on symptoms that tend to cluster together. Type 1 can particularly affect the heart, kidneys, and the circulatory system. Type 2 can involve lung problems, sleep disorders, and anxiety. Dominant symptoms of the Type 3 are muscle and connective tissue conditions, along with nervous system disorders. Finally, people with Type 4 tend to experience digestive and respiratory problems. However, many cases defy these patterns and produce a blend of struggles unique to the individual.

While the physical and psychological symptoms can be brutally debilitating, one of the hardest things about dealing with long COVID -- including in the workplace -- is the lack of understanding and compassion. Instead of much-needed empathy, long-haulers end up having to deal with the sting of skepticism, misunderstanding, and unintentional or even intentional cruelty from others. Even well-intended comments and advice can hurt when they do not consider the nature of Long COVID and the perspective of those dealing with it.