In the midst of managing COVID like outbreak, it’s natural to get overwhelmed. Focusing on containing the outbreak through social distancing and frequent hand washing is crucial, it’s also important to take care of one’s emotional health, however finding ways to manage it is also crucial.
How do we bring about an awareness about maintenance of mental health
- By talking about it and encouraging everyone to talk about it.
- This is a parallel invisible pandemic with the COVID-19 pandemic. Everyone should reflect upon and acknowledge their feeling states. This will help to know in what way they have been mentally disturbed or affected. It is ok to be affected as the situation is unprecedented and getting disturbed is expected.
- The stigma of mental health issues are to be addressed directly as that is done for the COVID-19 related stigmatization happening in the society. People are hiding in fear of being targeted by others.
- Prominent media persons, government authorities, medical & health care persons have to talk about it. Mainly, that physical isolation is needed and not social out-casting. In fact, we got to be there emotionally and support those who are suffering.
- Parents need to talk about it to their kids. To acknowledge their mental state. Same to be done with the elderly, and any other member of the family.
- Social media campaigns, etc are very effective in spreading the message, prominent people and influencers should openly talk about it.
Role of mindfulness therapies
- They help a lot. Regular practice of these therapies enables the individual to remain in charge of their situations and tackle the situation to the best of their capabilities. However, these are to be practiced regularly for a couple of weeks at least to gain benefit from it. This is not a quick-fix.
- How does Homeopathy help? U can mention just very few names of remedies but no potency or dosage. Just a general mention is allowed
- Homeopathic medicines are very effective in relieving these states. Remedies like Aconitum Nap, Arsenicum Alb, Bryonia Alb, Cocculus Ind, Causticum, Gelsemium S, Ignatia, Kalium Carb, Kalium Ars, Stramonium, etc. are some of the remedies that help. There are a huge number of remedies that can also be of help.
- However, selection of homeopathic medicines is based on individual responses and hence we cannot give a general recommendation about any remedy. It is best to consult your homeopath for any such intervention.Like myself, there are many homeopaths trained in psychiatry who can be very helpful.
- In contrast to the general notion, homeopathic medicines can give very quick relief in acute states if the correct remedy is prescribed.
- A lot of people with mental stress come down with physical symptoms as seen in psycho-somatic responses – here homeopathy is the treatment of choice. It helps not only to resolve the physical symptoms but also to relieve the internal mental or emotional disturbance.
- In addition to homeopathy, Bach Flower remedies are also very helpful however they need to be taken after consultation from an expert.
Any particular technique which has been found to be useful in boosting the morale of those with a predisposition towards a mental health problem
- Any technique that involves ‘breath-work’–meditation, mindfulness techniques, etc. Is very helpful.
- Progressive muscular relaxation technique is the most helpful in relaxing the body, which in turn, as a feedback, relaxes the mind. This reduces the stress and makes situation manageable.
- EFT (emotional freeing technique) is also simple and very effective technique that can be practiced to elevate the feeling state and reduce stress and tension.
- Practice of any art form–painting, dancing, singing, playing musical instrument, photography, drama, etc. can be very relaxing and healing if one connects to it. Just the joy of being involved in an art activity is very healing and researches have shown that it has an immune boosting effect too.
