In the times of stress

It is indeed unprecedented, as we face anenormous disruption in our lives. Children are likely to be experiencing worry,anxiety and fear, and this can include the types of fears that are very similarto those experienced by adults, such as a fear of dying, a fear of theirrelatives dying, or a fear of what it means to receive medical treatment.

Although all children are perceptive tochange, young children may find the changes that have taken place difficult tounderstand, and both young and older children may express irritability andanger. Children may find that they want to be closer to their parents, makemore demands on them, and, in turn, some parents or caregivers may be underundue pressure themselves.

   

With regard to older people and also thosewith underlying health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, lungdiseases etc., who are being identified as more vulnerable to COVID-19, and tobe told that you are very vulnerable, can be extremely frightening and veryfear-inducing. The psychological impacts for these populations can includeanxiety and feeling stressed or angry. Its impacts can be particularlydifficult for older people who may be experiencing cognitive decline ordementia effects. And some older people may already be socially isolated andexperiencing loneliness which can worsen mental health.

Moreover, for a lot of young people like usin general, socializing and friendship is a way to escape the pressing stressesof life. Now we cannot even do that, with social distancing and homequarantining being the expectation. We cannot physically spend time with ourfriends, which is a stress reliever, and we cannot physically talk to our friendsabout our issues. There is a vicious cycle of loneliness and disconnect beingperpetrated by this pandemic.

Additionally, the typical issue of socialmedia has been exacerbated by this pandemic. In normal times, social mediaproves to be a source of anxiety, as most people use it as a medium to displaytheir best moments. This makes those who are predisposed to low self-esteemfeel even worse about themselves.

Now, we deal with that to a greater extent.While most of us struggle to balance everything going on in the world, othersare taking to social media to show everyone just how productive, proactive andamazing they are. For those of us with low self-esteem, this further increasesfeelings of inadequacy. More in focus are the constant updates aboutcoronavirus currently, especially those concerning confirmed cases and thenumber of deaths to date, can be extremely overwhelming and feel relentless.

Moreover, rumours and speculation can add fuel to anxiety.

Saying to people around us that we’re ‘socialdistancing’, ‘self-isolating’ or ‘in quarantine’ may lead to negative emotionsif these terms are not used correctly. For example, using the term quarantineto describe one’s situation can be misleading and induce fear if that personleaves their house to buy food. This could lead to others feeling anxious aboutleaving their house over concerns that people are not being cautious or takingpreventative measures seriously. This then leads to a feeling of fear andforced isolation where it may not be required.

How to deal

When we are facing a crisis, the firstthing that gets negatively affected is our mental wellbeing. This, ironically,is also the first thing that will help us endure and survive the same crisis.In crisis mode, our brains instinctively reduce higher functioning that allowsus to do long term planning, and instead shift our thought process to a primal,more immediate threat response. If these symptoms recur and persist, itdiminishes the brain’s ability to self-sooth. In the midst of our currentCOVID19 crisis, self-soothing is the one thing that we need more than ever.Recognizing crisis mode living is the first step to bringing balance to yourthinking and your health.

Simple strategies that can address thisissue can include giving young people the love and attention that they need toresolve their fears, and being honest with children, explaining what ishappening in a way that they can understand, even if they are young. Childrenare very perceptive and will model how to respond from their carers. Parentsalso need to be supported in managing their own stressors so that they can bemodels for their children. Helping children to find ways to express themselvesthrough creative activities, and providing structure in the day through establishingroutines, particularly when they are not going to school currently, can bebeneficial.

There are many things that older people caninitiate themselves or with the support of a carer, if needed, to protect theirmental health at this time. These include many of the strategies that we areadvocating across the entire population, such as undertaking physical activity,keeping to routines or creating new ones, and engaging in activities which givea sense of achievement. Maintaining social connections is also important. Someolder people may be familiar with digital methods and others may need guidancein how to use them. Once again, the mental health and psychosocial supportservices and other services that are relevant to this population must remain availableat this time.

With the disruptive effects of COVID-19including social distancing – currently dominating our daily lives, it isimportant that we check on each other, call and video-chat, and are mindful ofand sensitive to the unique mental health needs of those we care for. Ouranxiety and fears should be acknowledged and not ignored, but better understoodand addressed by individuals, communities and governments.

We can draw on the remarkable powers ofstrength and cooperation that we also fortunately possess as humans. And thatis what we must try to focus on to respond most effectively to this crisis asindividuals, family and community members, friends and colleagues.

Cultivating and practising a teachableskill like empathy, will take us a long way in our ability to self-sooth. Dr.Anthony Scioli, an American author and clinical psychologist,explains that HOPE is a part of a person’s character or personality. You arenot born with hope. Hope must be developed, like a set of muscles.

There are four kinds of hope and just likeeach muscle, each has a special purpose:

Attachment Hope is used to build and keeptrusting relationships, have a sense of connection to others, and have strongsurvival skills.

Mastery Hope is used to become strong andsuccessful, supported in your efforts, and inspired by good role models.

Survival Hope is used to stay calm and findways out of trouble or difficult situations. It allows you to manage yourfears.

Spiritual Hope is used to feel close tonature and all human beings and to draw extra strength and protection.

We are in this together, let’s sticktogether.

Dr. Tasaduk Hussain Itoo works at SMVD Narayana Super Speciality Hospital Jammu.

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