Being with Yourself
Examining factors and ways to combat mental illnesses during quarantine
by - Krisha Gomatam
Anxiety and fear thrive on uncertainty. Specially during this unprecedented time when the future seems obstructed with ambiguity and panic, it is easy for mental health to deteriorate. Since the first case of the coronavirus in December 2019, life has changed radically; affecting our health, daily activities, financial situation and education. With no clear end to the pandemic and from cases increasing every day, it is important to understand and care for our mental health while being productive with our work.
Social distancing is a crucial method of preventing the virus from spreading but it can lead to isolation, lack of physical activity, rumination and loss of connection with family and friends. Studies have proven that long periods of isolation can have adverse health effects such as depression, poor sleep quality, damaged immune system, accelerated cognitive decline and personality changes.
Likewise, looking back at the Ebola virus outbreak, it was reported that symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety-depression were common and psychological support was needed.
During the lockdown, many young adults and people with pre-existing mental illnesses have reported depressive symptoms and an increase in suicidal ideation. Severe lethargy, procrastination and fatigue can also commonly be seen during lockdown from all age groups, which subsequently affects work ethic and job performance.
Another contributing factor to the decline of mental health is the spreading of fake news or misinformation which triggers a lot of anxiety and stress. Social media has created a large platform for coronavirus conspiracy theories, hoaxes, anti-mask myths and sham cures.“Our greatest enemy right now is not the virus itself,” the director-general of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, was quoted as saying. “It’s fears, rumours and stigma.”
With all the events that have happened this past year, it has certainly changed our view of the future; from economy to climate change to the general health of the people. While watching the news go from bad to worse it is becoming increasingly important to preserve our mental health and find ways to cope with anxiety and other mental illnesses.
A few ways to combat negative thoughts and procrastination is to stay connected with family and friends, trying to eat healthy, exercise, get plenty of sleep, maintaining a routine or schedule which involves hobbies and sometimes taking a break from social media.
Preparing coping mechanisms such as these do not only help us tackle mental illnesses right now but is making us gear up to handle new crises and see deeper into ourselves. While the pandemic has offered us a grave challenge, it is upon ourselves to build resilience and come out of this with a renewed sense of perspective!
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