Behnaz Sanjana looks at how one can nurture mental wellness and stave off the stress in times of a global pandemic.
Ok, so it made us stock our pantries to bursting point, purchase boxes of facemasks and gloves, and give up the things we took for granted. While we have become proficient with the measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, how this new (temporary) normal takes a toll on one’s mental health may be overlooked.
No matter how much Dalgona coffee you whip up and Netflix you binge-watch, there’s always that terrifying thought of the virus knocking on your door. Not to forget the additional responsibilities that every household has had to undertake during this period. It helps to remember that stressing about the future can be counterproductive. Corticosteroids, the group of stress hormones, can greatly weaken your immunity – not something one can afford at present. Effectively dealing with virus-induced stress while in social isolation will keep you, your family and society resilient in tough times.
Maintaining the routine helps those who work from home. Adhering to fixed times to wake up, sleep and carry out official and domestic tasks helps in better productivity and taking each day as it comes. Break off from office work for the day by leaving your work-from-home space and engaging in other activities.
Avoiding conflict when members of the family are inmates of the same cell is paramount. Understand that your co-inhabitants could also experience silent panic attacks, so make an effort to be polite, empathetic and kind. It helps to prevent full-blown fights stemming from which movie to watch and what to eat for lunch.
Investing in yourself, by way of time or resources, is a way to take a positive look at the future. Taking an online class, reading that self-help book you put away for ‘when I have the time’, creating visual or culinary art enables you to reaffirm faith and confidence in yourself and takes your mind off the doom and gloom.
Exercise the body, but don’t forget the mind. A good workout lets the endorphins lighten up the mood, but tending to your mental health also has great payoffs, especially in the current circumstances. Practising mindfulness (guided meditation can help newbies) is most effective for curbing stress, anxiety and depression, thereby boosting physical health. Positive affirmations and playing with a pet can help too.
Reaching out to others is a valuable means of catharsis. Text messages, jokes and memes serve a limited purpose, especially if you or someone you know lives by themselves. Have a genuine telephone conversation with the aged aunt, drop off groceries to the retired neighbour, or virtually hold a hand that may feel most vulnerable at this time.
Don’t over-think it. What does the future look like? Where is the world headed? What about the economy? At this point, nobody can tell for sure. Curb your appetite for the latest piece of news every minute of the day and concentrate on adopting thoughts on how you can keep yourself and your community safe.
Gratitude changes everything, it’s said. Counting your blessings (like having a proper home to be practising social distancing in, to begin with) will take your mind off the worry. Thanking those who add value to your life has a lasting, two-way effect.
