Hyderabad: Will there be a normal life post pandemic? Can we go back to pre COVID days?. These are some pertinent questions which are giving sleepless nights to many. Dr. Praveen Kumar Chintapanti, consultant Psychiatrist with Tranquil Minds, Hyderabad says, “Here is a chronic unseen enemy, causing chronic fear, apprehension and uncertainty amongst people. Even in a war, there is some degree of control by the leadership about what is going to happen, but in this situation, everything is mostly unknown and even the leadership is not sure of the forthcoming”.
Schools are trying to keep children busy with online classes, parents have also engaged kids in vocational online classes. But adults are under a lot of stress as there is uncertainty looming over them, especially with career, businesses, finance interpersonal distances. The concern of maintaining a lifestyle, repaying loans, paying EMIs, fees and bills can cause stress amongst people.
“Staying home for some time together with family will help people deal with mental distress, which may be caused due to losing a job or not being able to deal with the day to day financial problems, but over time, due to such a mental state, people tend to snap at each other”, says Dr. Praveen. “Therefore, when uncertainty is associated with people living with high emotions, they start getting hostile with each other and so, bitterness comes out in the form of caustic comments”, he adds.
Dr. Praveen talks about ‘Learned Helplessness Theory’, given by a psychologist Martin E.P. Seligman, wherein after being exposed to aversive stimuli repeatedly, people tend to remain in the same environment even if they are escapable. “I am worried about this learned helplessness creeping in”, he says.
But what can be done to deal with such a situation? Dr. Praveen suggests the following things:
- Join some online courses to keep yourself abreast and ahead of the competition
- Start using your time constructively. Try to acquire more and more skills that will be even relevant after the lockdown
- Keep yourself up with some exercise, since it helps relax and refresh the body and mind
- Follow a healthy lifestyle. Sleep on time and keep yourself away from alcohol
- Every day is a working day, except the weekends. Thus, utilize your time in learning something new every day
- It is important to mentally prepare yourself for the upcoming uncertainties and be ready to face up any hurdles whatsoever
- Students should not distance themselves from their studies. Preparations for competitive exams should go on and not be hampered by the current situations.
- Look for alternative options in career, which can also be creative like writing, blogging, creating interesting content, etc.
- People who continue to have disturbed sleep, low mood, especially if there are thoughts of self-harm and suicidal thoughts, get in contact with a doctor or a psychiatrist rather than assuming that it will go away.
#IndiaFightsCorona, we too shall be determined and confident that soon we will be able to combat this terror of global COVID-19 pandemic and follow the aforementioned measures to keep our mental state balanced.
