Coping with mental health issues during Coronavirus lockdown

-Monica Aggarwal

While social distancing and self-isolation are crucial steps to combat the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, they can take a huge toll on the mental health of individuals. According to the World Economic Forum, with over 2.6 billion people in lockdown or quarantine worldwide, it is the largest psychological experiment ever conducted. As people stay at home during the global lockdown imposed to contain the Coronavirus, mental health experts have warned of increased cases of psychological conditions and mental health disorders in human beings, including anxiety, depression, stress, insomnia among others due to lack of social interactions. Other reasons for stress or mental anxiety during this lockdown can vary from fear of infection to dealing with financial hardships.

In this trying time, it is even more important for the people to look after their mental health and regulate their work-home schedule to protect themselves, not only physically, but psychologically also. Here are a few tips people can practice in their life to support their mental health while staying indoors at this uncertain time:

1. Meditate: One of the best ways to improve mood and bring positivity to your life is to meditate. It is a scientifically proven way to improve your work performance and train your mind to be alert. Start by closing your eyes and meditating for 10-15 minutes in the beginning. Try to sit in a relaxing position and relax your breathing. You can sit on the chair or on the floor to practice meditation. Focus on your breathing and how the body reacts to each inhalation and exhalation. One can watch online videos to learn the art of meditation. Regular meditation helps in improving the sleep cycle and lifting the spirits.

2. Stick to your normal routine: It is important for individuals to work around their normal (pre-lockdown) routine during the quarantine as well. Sticking to your regular routine will help in maintaining the work-home balance, and will keep away the negative thoughts. Wake up and sleep at the usual time, get ready for 'work-from-home', exercise daily, clean your house - manage your time well. Don't forget to practice self-care routine and reduce activities that can give you stress. Sticking to your usual routine during quarantine will make it easy for you to readjust to the post-lockdown world.

3. Adopt a hobby: With some extra time at your hands, there is no better time to start a new hobby that you have been wanting to pursue. Start a daily journal, paint, sing, learn cooking, make crafts, spend time with your children, anything that will give you happiness. Meanwhile, connect with your near and dear ones digitally to stay updated about their wellbeing. Doing something special will help you look forward to a new day during this trying time.

4. Talk to a professional: One can always consult a mental health expert like a therapist or a counselor to tackle the issue. Several experts are providing advice to cope with mental health disorders. Many licensed therapists and psychologists are offering consultations over video chat platforms. It is even more important for people with existing mental health issues to continue their treatment amid the lockdown.

While these are some of the many tips one can follow to fight mental illness, world governments, and international organizations are also taking initiatives to help the people deal with mental health issues during the lockdown. It is also significant for vigilant citizens to inform and educate other people around them about the psychological impact of social distancing and lockdown and help each other in the time of health crisis.