Lockdown and Mental Health

By Dr. M Jyotsana Shree,
Doctor of Pharmacy.

This lockdown has a lot of positive as well as negative effects on our lives and the whole environment. Understanding the positive and negative aspects and working on the loopholes is a much-needed measure to be taken right now.  A lot of people are happy as they are able to spend quality time with their families. They are liking the fact that they could get rid of the daily routine and spend some stress-free life. The environment has been detoxified completely. On the other hand, there are people worried about the future, unable to cope up with this change and being locked in.  Few of them are taking it patiently and being aware of the current scenario. At the same time, people are getting scared just with the thought of getting the COVID19 or what if any of the family members gets it, or what if I lose my job because of it? or the post lockdown effect on the economy.

We understand that this lockdown has a not so good or even sometimes negative effect on our mental health. It is very important for all of us to list down all the modifiable and nonmodifiable consequences of this lockdown. Being a responsible citizen and a family member you must prioritize your physical, emotional as well as mental health equally. This would, in turn, help you in spontaneously dealing with your problems or situations wisely.

RESPONSIBILITIES DURING A LOCKDOWN

• Act preventive but not overprotective.

• Face the situation patiently.

• Take care of your  family  and friends

• Utilize this time for self development and updation.  A lot of online courses have been made available for free so that no one feels purposeless. Read books, work on your old hobby or improvise your skills.

• Exercise / work out daily, do not indulge a sedentary lifestyle into your daily life, instead take advantage of this time and help your body detoxify.

• Do not spread/share news which you are unsure of.

FEAR AND ITS EFFECT ON MENTAL HEALTH

Fear is a huge risk, maybe even dangerous than the pandemic. Fear could make the current situation worse. It can drain you mentally leading to anxiety or depression. Many people even get into a phase of depression. According to past quarantine literature studies, it has been significantly noticed that people took a long time to recover from the quarantine effect, especially the frontline workers. So it is needful in this situation to help and support the frontline workers as well as motivate them by appreciating them frequently.

SLEEP DISORDERS

Are you struggling for quality sleep? Here are a few tried and trusted suggestions that would help you find your way towards a quality sleep and eventually a better quality of life.

• Start your day earlier: Since our body works according to the day and night cycle, it is suggested to start your day earlier as well as mold your wakeup-sleep cycle accordingly. Get exposed to a good amount of light during the day time.

• Exercise: Workout early in the day. It releases happy hormones in your body and helps to relieve stress. You may practice any of the forms like yoga, meditation, aerobics, swimming, cycling, etc. If you don’t feel like, then get involved in some of the other household activities like wiping the floor, washing clothes/dishes so as to keep your muscles working.

•  Avoid drinking caffeine/alcohol after the evening. Instead, the consumption of warm milk or herbal tea could enhance your sleep.

•  Avoid big meals during the night time.

• Avoid or limit your nap time.

• Decrease your screen time i.e. avoids exposure to TV/mobile/tablet or laptop before your bedtime. Indulge reading habits into your daily routine before sleeping.

• Preferably follow the same sleeping schedule every day.

• Spend some good time with your family. Cook together, play with them or engage in any other activity.

• Make sure you dim/lower the lights before your bedtime. It is an automatic indication of the body as discussed earlier.

• Find a comfortable sleeping spot.

• Search for sleep-inducing spots. You may also call them acupuncture spots.  Two of them include point between both the eyebrows just above the nose and the one spot between the toenail and big toe. Press it for 30 seconds and repeat for about 20-30 times.

• If you are dealing with any kind of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), talk to your family and/or friends. In case if you feel this formula is not working out, contact an expert and get counseled.

• Try to postpone your worries. Avoid over-thinking during the night times. In case you get into a stressful situation, try to distract yourself by getting engaged in some activity or sharing it with someone.

We are taking care of your mental health, you take care of your family. Let’s together create a healthy India because mental health is precious.

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