Key Mantras to deal with mental health issues during Covid 19

Following a disaster, most people will ultimately do well and return to their previous level of functioning. However, many people will initially experience distressing thoughts, feelings, and physical symptoms and may engage in risky behaviors to help cope

First of all, it is completely okay to feel the way you’re feeling.  In fact 71% of people polled are feeling overwhelmed with WFH and managing their families. As with anything new we will start having to deal specifically on how to do this as well as we can. Following a disaster, most people will ultimately do well and return to their previous level of functioning. However, many people will initially experience distressing thoughts, feelings, and physical symptoms and may engage in risky behaviors to help cope. We obviously want to minimize this as we are role models to everyone from our loved ones to our colleagues.  Traumatic events are not easy for anyone to comprehend or accept. Understandably, many children feel frightened and confused. Fortunately, most children, even those exposed to trauma, are quite resilient. The longer this thing goes though, the sense of normalcy goes out the window. It will be up to us to create this for families, relatives, friends, employees and colleagues.

We were already in the middle of a mental health crisis. Worldwide, over 264 million people were struggling with depression, and in India approximately 7.5% of the population currently suffer from some sort of mental illness. And now, long periods of isolation, the loss of loved ones, the loss of jobs, financial insecurity and the daily stress of our new normal are accelerating that mental health crisis. Just as we’ve had to make drastic changes to our lives to stop the spread of the virus, we need to take urgent steps to safeguard our mental health, too.

We have seen an increase in calls to our local hotline for anxiety during the Covid-19 crisis.  Not only that we are also getting more calls due to increase in alcohol and other substances.  Also there are increased calls about withdrawal symptoms and how to handle life without substances. We have had more people report an increase in anxiety working from home.  Crisis texts are being sent to me daily and answered as quickly as I can.   Not surprisingly, people are exercising less. They’re also eating more and reaching for comfort foods — which are mostly carbohydrates.  All disastrous to managing health and stress for the entire family.  

Common symptoms after any disaster:

Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep

Sadness, depression, hyperactivity, irritability or anger

Having no feelings at all or feeling numb

A lack of energy or feeling exhausted all the time/li>

Lack of appetite or, the opposite, eating all the time

Trouble concentrating or feeling confused

Social isolation, reduced or restricted activities

Thinking no one else is haviang the same reactions as you

Headaches, stomachaches or other body pains

Misusing alcohol, tobacco, drugs or prescription medications and even food to cope

There are steps that individuals can take for themselves and their families to reduce negative effects and improve their ability to function at home, work, and school. 

Eat, hydrate, exercise, and get rest on a regular basis; taking care of your body reduces the negative effects of stress.

Avoid using alcohol, tobacco and other drugs to manage distressing emotions; these substances often make things harder in the long-run and can cause problems.

Find healthy ways to relax, such as breathing exercises, meditation, mindfulness, calming self-talk, soothing music.

Engage in fun and restoring activities, including exercise, hobbies and social activities.

Keep informed about new information and developments. Use credible sources of information to avoid speculation and rumors.

Limit exposure to television and social media content about the disaster; overexposure can increase distress.

Stay connected with friends, family, neighbors and colleagues to give and receive support. Helping one another aids in healing.

Learn what local health care and other resources are available; use and share this information to help yourself and others.

Remind yourself and others that its normal to have many different feelings as well as “good days” and “bad days” as a natural part of recovery.

Seek assistance from a health care professional if your distress remains high after several weeks, you are having persistent trouble functioning at work or home, or thinking about hurting yourself or someone else.