With the number of cases increasing every day, loved ones being affected, and lockdowns in place, stress and anxiety are at an all-time high in Covid 19. “The second wave is particularly intense, not just because of the toll it is exacting due to the large number of people affected, but also because it struck just as things seemed to be returning to normal. The vaccine provided some relief, but millions remain unvaccinated, and people have yet to recover from their financial and personal losses.” Dr. Jyoti Kapoor, Manasthali's senior psychiatrist and founder.
Women in non-metro cities were most concerned about depression, anxiety, and panic attacks, according to a Practo report published in March 2021, while women in metro cities were most concerned about stress, obsessive-compulsive disorders, eating disorders, and mood disorders.
What factors contribute to mental health issues?
“Fear, worry, and tension are natural responses to potential or actual threats, as well as periods when we are faced with confusion or the unknown,” according to the World Health Organization (WHO). As a result, it is normal and understandable that people are afraid in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.” In a pandemic like COVID-19, the fear of catching the virus is compounded by the drastic changes to our everyday lives, with our activities being limited in support of WHO's attempts to contain and delay the virus's spread. Working from home, temporary unemployment, home-schooling children, and lack of physical interaction with other family members are all new realities.
How can people take care of their mental health under these circumstances? Here's what mental health professionals have to say!
Psychiatrist Dr. Samir Parikh said that, in addition to following Covid-appropriate conduct, one should try not to "look into social media too much." “The secret is social support – share and keep talking to people,” he said, adding that one should maintain a healthy lifestyle, get enough sleep, exercise, do yoga, read, listen to music, and take frequent breaks. According to Dr. Kapoor, the best way to handle tension in these times is to concentrate on living in the moment.
Avoid dwelling on numbers that are irrelevant to the average person. All that is required is that one concentrate on oneself, which entails the same old stringent measures of wearing a mask and remaining indoors. Maintain a strict schedule. Discipline allows the brain to stay focused on the task at hand rather than wandering off into negative thoughts. Maintain a strict schedule. Discipline allows the brain to stay focused on the task at hand rather than drifting off into negative thoughts. Make an effort to engage in a creative practise. Find time to engage in hobbies you love, even if working from home is taxing. It relieves the pressure of meeting job deadlines. The procedure itself causes happy chemicals to be released. Endorphins, which are natural pain relievers, are released during exercise. It also gives us a sense of achievement while keeping us physically fit and boosting our immunity. The balance of neurochemicals can be restored with adequate sleep and a healthy sleep-wake cycle, resulting in less emotional fatigue and burnout.
It is always necessary to eat a healthy diet in order to increase physical and psychological stress tolerance. Make contact with your loved ones. Don't get into the same old Corona speculations; instead, talk about sports, science, or the cosmos. Read whatever interests you, and don't limit yourself to the newspaper; there's a lot to choose from.
Concentrate about all of the stuff that we already have. Things will improve sooner or later. Today, we know more about diseases than we ever did before. Patience is a valuable virtue to cultivate now and in the future. ”Finally, but certainly not least, be thankful. We will live, and in the process, we will improve the world. “So many things are changing for the better,” Dr. Kapoor said.
