6 lockdown situations that are triggering your anxiety: Essential coping tips for you

The COVID-19 pandemic, which originated in China, has changed the way of the world, shutting down schools and offices, having us all locked up at home and limiting our resources. From 24th March, India is under complete lock down, a government initiative to contain the spread of novel coronavirus which has taken the lives of lakhs across the world. The good news is that the lockdown seems to have worked for us. In a recent statement, the Union Health Ministry mentioned that post the lock down, COVID-19 cases have been doubling in 6.2 days instead of 3, which was the case prior to lock down. But the bad news is, the COVID-19 infection, and the quarantine period, which it has brought upon us, has changed our definition of normal life. The ‘new normal’, characterised by panic, social distancing, work from home, loss of work, and house arrest (almost!) has triggered our psychological distress.

According to the estimates of a recent report by the Indian Psychiatry Society (IPS), India has witnessed a 20 per cent rise in mental illness cases amidst the coronavirus outbreak. In a recent interview with us, clinical psychologist and psychotherapist expressed her apprehension about an impending outbreak of mental health issues, which can follow the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, every cloud has a silver lining, runs the saying. If you’re able to cope with and survive this situation, you will come out much stronger as a human being. Our expert tips on six overwhelming lock down life situations will help you stand tall amidst the these trying times.

Situation #1: The fear of catching and spreading COVID-19 infection

The urge to take control over the situation is our common response to any crisis or anxiety. So, while taking precautions against the COVID-19 infection by following the recommended protocols, our panic is increasing our craving for more information. There’s no denying that it is crucial to stay informed amidst an outbreak, but there’s a limit to your brain’s capacity. Information overload is mounting the panic too.

The right move: “We need to reduce our hypervigilance. Every time a new case comes up, the fear also spikes,” says Vaish. Shut your gadgets and give yourself a break from 24/7 news.Focus on what you should do and make sure that you’re doing them all. This will reduce the fear factor. Also, it is important to tell yourself that these are unusual times and the emotional upheaval you are going through is normal. “Don’t feel anxious about feeling anxious,” adds Vaish.

Situation #2: The insecurity of job loss

Many of us are under the fear that we may lose our jobs and business amidst the COVID-19 lockdown.
The right move: “For anticipatory fear, proper information about the market scenario, can be your best weapon,” says Vaish. Speculation can actually lead to unreasonable fear. Talk to others in your field and colleagues for clarity. Also, learning body relaxation techniques will help a lot. “It has been proved by thorough research that stress and anxiety don’t last for long in a relaxed body. Make sure that you practise these techniques repeatedly through the day, especially when you feel scared.”
For people who have already suffered a job or business loss, the way to try and logicalize their chain of thoughts and reassure themselves by telling themselves, “This too shall pass.” It isn’t easy to get there. But conscious efforts can definitely help you. “In fact, people who have lost jobs can consider starting something new after the lock down and utilize this break for ideation, planning and skill enhancement,” suggests Vaish. Also, look for potential future employers.


Situation #3: Living with an abusive partner 24/7
People living in a toxic relationship with their abusive partners are facing a tough time amidst the lock down. They are experiencing increased instances of domestic violence, which is a mind-boggling situation for sure. “Going out for work gives people a respite from their abusive partners. The lock down has robbed them of that much-needed break. Staying in a toxic situation for 24 hours is affecting their mental health,” explains Vaish. Abusive people are likely to turn more aggressive towards their family when they are confined to their homes for so long, “This is because they are unable to vent out their frustration anywhere else than their partner,” says Vaish.

The right move: If you are being abused, avoid interaction with the abuser as much as possible because confrontation might worsen the situation and you won’t have anyone coming to your help amidst the lock down. “Try your best to ignore and resist the urge to react to whatever is happening. This is likely to reduce the intensity of aggression after a point of time,” suggests Vaish. However, if things go beyond your control you need to call the cops.

Situation #4: Challenges of working from home

You must have dreamt of a work-from-home option for long. But now, when you are actually doing it, the challenges are seeming to be overwhelming. No support from domestic help, power cuts and slow internet speed is affecting your productivity and prolonging your work hours. Also, having too many things to do both on the work and domestic front is affecting your focus, leading to stress and anxiety. “The situation is particularly difficult for working mothers, because they don’t have the support of nannies now,” says Vaish. Attending to kids while working is a real challenge. “Even when husbands pitch in with taking care of kids and household chores, they are pretty much clueless about how much needs to be done. Moreover, they also have their work,” says Vaish.

The right move: Whether you are living alone or in a family set up, scheduling your home and office work right is the key to take stress out of work from home. “Couples need to set ground rules for who’s doing what. Tally your work schedule with that of your partner and decide accordingly,” suggests Vaish. Remember, it is okay to let go of certain tasks in times like this. Don’t feel guilty about them. An overwhelming sense of responsibility can take a toll on your mental health. Make a list of the top most important domestic and office tasks and set timelines for each. This will help you manage your time better, improve concentration and alleviate stress too.

Situation #5: Unavailability of treatment for pre-existing depression

People who were suffering from mental health issues like depression are finding this situation extremely difficult. “This is because they are confined to their houses and not getting access to medicines. In many cases, the prescription cannot be renewed without seeing the patient physically. So only teleconsultation doesn’t always help,” adds Vaish.

The right move: Stay connected with your psychiatrist. “If your psychiatrist can’t prescribe a medicine without meeting you, then ask him to recommend an online psychotherapist,” suggests Vaish.

Situation #6: Anxiety about depleting stock of essentials

This is another cause of concern amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Lack of availability of essentials is a reality the lock down has inflicted on us. But unfortunately, it has been worsened by panic buying. While it is necessary to ensure sufficient stock of essentials, panic only adds to your own distress apart from depriving others of resources.

The right move:Here again, planning is the key. Make a list of necessary ingredients and calculate the quantity for a week. Also, check your kitchen stock well before going for your grocery shopping.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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Social distancing and mental health: How to avoid taking the TB route in coronavirus

Social distancing and mental health  

At least 10 people on my Instagram have declared themselves “Queen of Quarantine”. Social distancing and isolation are the two new buzzwords, and the most trending hashtags. While this is great, because we can’t flatten the corona curve without following these tenets, it is easy to forget that for some, isolation can be tough, and even triggering. People with pre-existing mental health issues might find it hard to socially distance themselves – being alone (for someone who lives away from their family) could potentially be depressing as well.

Worse still, is when someone tests positive for an infectious disease. The diagnosis in itself is a huge shock- and then there is the stigma that silently but significantly underlines most of the social distancing and isolation.

But isolation is the need of the hour, and to meet this need better, there are certain lessons we can draw in this pandemic from India’s tuberculosis epidemic and experience. Society often tends to forget to be warm to those who are suffering – and the TB experience stands as testimony to this. Not all forms of TB are infectious. However, TB patients are often compelled to physically isolate. This is because in some cases of TB, such as pulmonary TB, patients are infectious for the first few weeks of treatment and require quarantine measures. Similarly, in Covid-19, though the exact potency of the virus is still under research, we know for a fact that it is highly contagious, and thus, isolation is best advised.

The absence of warmth

In TB, the isolation is often caused by the stigma attached to TB. Patient narratives reveal that people tend to avoid being in the same physical space as them not just while they are on treatment but in some cases even after they are cured. These people could be community members, family members, and in some cases even partners.

In both cases, physical isolation – which translates to the absence of human touch and warmth – has a significant impact on the patient’s mental health, often leading to feelings of alienation, worthlessness, self stigma, and depression. TB treatment is long and is known to have mental health side effects in addition to other side effects. The length of treatment and the side effects often result in psychological distress, hopelessness, depression and in extreme cases mental health breakdowns.

News from all over the world has been pouring in about racism against people from East and Southeast Asia during the coronavirus pandemic. The fear and frenzy is gradually taking the form of a foe with which TB and HIV patients and survivors are all too familiar – stigma. And as can be observed from both these diseases, the stigma associated with a disease often not only heightens the mental health issues a patient may face as a result, but also drives the testing for, and reporting of the disease, underground.

In Mumbai, the hands of potential Covid-19 patients who needed home quaratine were stamped.

If we do not stop and take stock of how these diseases have played out, we are bound to take the same route with Covid-19, and the future of public health then, does not look pretty. If patients abandon treatment mid-way, they might still be infectious or develop an infection subsequently, and pose the threat of spreading this infection. As a result, infection rates could go up and endanger public health.

What can we do to address the impact coronavirus has on mental health?

Phone a friend, revive the art of letter writing even if what you are sending out is actually a long email or participate in a silly social media challenge. While we must continue to remain physically distant from each other, we need to find other ways to rekindle the spark of human connection – the antidote to isolation.

Workplaces should institute work-from-home policies and provide paid leave to those affected so as to alleviate the psychological stress that comes from the threat of financial insecurity. In the informal sector, where workers do not have the luxury of working from home, employers ought to provide access to clean water, soap, and sanitisers as well as economic and social support to workers in the form of paid leave in case of ill health.

The need for empathy

At a programmatic level, we need to develop a National Covid-19 programme along the lines of the national TB programme, and integrate mental health as a critical component of it. Patients and families have to be provided counseling and support right from the time of diagnosis through the process of treatment. Additionally, public information campaigns targeted at communities and health personnel ought to be launched to increase literacy about the impact coronavirus has on mental health as well as the ways to deal with it.

Coronavirus has caused one too many casualties. Do not let your empathy be one of them. When you interact with another person, take your precautions, but remember to see the humanity in them instead of reducing their existence to “potential carrier” or “Covid-19 patient”. Dehumanisation and othering have a catastrophic impact on mental health of the person at the receiving end of such behavior.

Why should that be your concern?

Albert Camus, in his novel The Plague, wrote “From now on it can be said that plague was the concern of all of us.” This is as true for the coronavirus today as it was for the plague then. Covid=19 can happen to anybody. Please remember, we are all in this together.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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Burnout linked with irregular heartbeat

Feeling excessively tired, devoid of energy, demoralised, and irritable? You may have burnout, a syndrome associated with a potentially deadly heart rhythm disturbance. That's the conclusion of a large study published today in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

"Vital exhaustion, commonly referred to as burnout syndrome, is typically caused by prolonged and profound stress at work or home," said study author Dr. Parveen K. Garg of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. "It differs from depression, which is characterised by low mood, guilt, and poor self-esteem. The results of our study further establish the harm that can be caused in people who suffer from exhaustion that goes unchecked."

Atrial fibrillation is the most common form of heart arrhythmia. It is estimated that 17 million people in Europe and 10 million people in the US will have this condition by next year, increasing their risk for heart attack, stroke, and death. Yet, what causes atrial fibrillation is not fully understood.

Psychological distress has been suggested as a risk factor for atrial fibrillation, but previous studies showed mixed results. In addition, until now, the specific association between vital exhaustion and atrial fibrillation had not been evaluated.

The researchers in this study surveyed more than 11,000 individuals for the presence of vital exhaustion, anger, antidepressant use, and poor social support. They then followed them over a period of nearly 25 years for the development of atrial fibrillation.

Participants with the highest levels of vital exhaustion were at a 20% higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation over the course of follow-up compared to those with little to no evidence of vital exhaustion.

While further study is needed to better understand the observed relationship, Dr. Garg noted that two mechanisms are likely at play. "Vital exhaustion is associated with increased inflammation and heightened activation of the body's physiologic stress response," he said. "When these two things are chronically triggered that can have serious and damaging effects on the heart tissue, which could then eventually lead to the development of this arrhythmia."

No connections were found between anger, antidepressant use, or poor social support and development of atrial fibrillation. "The findings for anger and social support are consistent with prior research but two previous studies did find a significant association between antidepressant use and an increased risk of atrial fibrillation. Clearly, more work still needs to be done," said Dr. Garg.

Further research is also needed to identify concrete actions for doctors to help patients with exhaustion, said Dr. Garg.

He concluded: "It is already known that exhaustion increases one's risk for cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke. We now report that it may also increase one's risk for developing atrial fibrillation, a potentially serious cardiac arrhythmia. The importance of avoiding exhaustion through careful attention to -- and management of -- personal stress levels as a way to help preserve overall cardiovascular health cannot be overstated."

this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     
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Psychological distress associated with emotional eating and obesity

People with lower incomes may be more likely to have obesity as a result of psychological distress that gives rise to emotional eating, recent findings suggest.

As part of the latest study, as team of researchers explored whether the relationship between lower socio-economic states )SES) and obesity is explained by psychological distress and subsequent emotional eating as a coping strategy.

150 participants from North West England from a range of socio-economic backgrounds completed questionnaires measuring psychological distress, emotional eating and resilience.

They reported their income and education level as an indicator with higher psychological distress, and higher distress was associated with higher emotional eating, which in turn predicted higher BMI. 

The study showed that psychological distress alone did not facilitate a relationship between lower SES and BMI.

According to the researchers, the findings suggest that experience psychological distress associated with living in lower socio-economic circumstances is associated with emotional eating to cope which in turn is associated with obesity.

The reason for socioeconomic disparities in obesity levels is often attributed to the greater availability of low-cost, calorie-dense foods in more deprived areas relative to more affluent neighbourhood.
However, there is limited evidence for an association between local food environments and obesity, indicating psychological and emotional factors may also play a tole, said the lead researcher.

The study also revealed an unexpected finding. Higher SES was also associated with emotional eating. However, this pathway was not in response to significant psychological distress.

this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   
https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement               

People with lower incomes may be more likely to have obesity as a result of psychological distress that gives rise to emotional eating, recent findings suggest. As part of the latest study, as team of researchers explored whether the relationship between lower socioeconomic status (SES) and obesity is explained by psychological distress and subsequent emotional eating as a coping strategy. 150 participants from North West England from a range of socioeconomic backgrounds completed questionnaires measuring psychological distress, emotional eating and resilience. https://www.thehansindia.com/life-style/health/psychological-distress-associated-with-emotional-eating-and-obesity-527919

https://www.thehansindia.com/life-style/health/psychological-distress-associated-with-emotional-eating-and-obesity-527919

Link between stress, cervical cancer uncovered

A new study has established an association between cervical cancer and stress in patients, stating that females having cervical cancer with stress-related disorders are at a higher risk of succumbing to the disease.

"Patients receiving a cancer diagnosis are at increased risk of several stress-related psychiatric disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and stress-reaction and adjustment disorders," said the study's author.

The author added, "Emerging evidence from both experimental and epidemiological studies indicates that psychological distress might affect the progression of many cancer types."

For the following study, researchers gathered and examined records of 4,245 patients diagnosed with cervical cancer in Sweden between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2011.

At the same time, researchers also identified patients who had experienced a stressful life event, such as the death or severe illness of a family member, divorce, or being between jobs, as these events would increase emotional burden on patients.

Moreover, researchers also identified women who had cervical cancer or unspecified uterine cancers as their cause of death. During the study, 1,392 patients died, and cervical cancer was listed as the cause of death for 1,005 of them.

In all, researchers found that 1,797 patients either had stress-related disorders or had undergone stressful life events. Patients with either a stress-related disorder or a stressful life event were 33 per cent more likely to die of the disease.

Those who had stress-related disorders were 55 per cent more likely to die of their cervical cancer, while those who had experienced a stressful life event were 20 per cent more likely to die of their disease.

There are several possible explanations for the link between psychological stress and cervical cancer-specific mortality.

One reason can be that a woman suffering from a psychological disorder may be less likely to seek treatment and may be diagnosed at a later stage, added the author.

"Our findings support that oncologists or gynecologists perform an active evaluation of psychiatric status on return visits to see how patients with cervical cancer are doing, not only somatically, but also mentally," said co-author.

"If confirmed in other populations and countries, psychological screening and intervention may be considered as an integral component in cervical cancer care,"she added.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                  https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                                                                      FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                    

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Social media may improve mental health in adults

Contrary to popular belief, using social media and the internet regularly could improve mental health among adults and help fend off serious psychological distress, such as depression and anxiety, a study has found.

According to researchers, communication technologies and social media platforms make it easier to maintain relationships and access health information.

Until now, adults have not been the focus of much research on the mental health impacts of social media use, said a researcher.

Most studies on social media have focused on youth and college students, and the effects could be explained by life stages, rather than technology use.

aking a snapshot of the anxiety felt by young people today and concluding that a whole generation is at risk because of social media ignores more noteworthy social changes, such as the lingering effects of the Great Recession, the rise in single-child families, older and more protective parents, more kids going to college and rising student debt, he said.

Researchers set out to study more mature populations, analysing data from more than 13,000 relationships from adult participants.

Using 2015 and 2016 data, the team found social media users are 63% less likely to experience serious psychological distress from one year to the next, including major depression or serious anxiety.

Having extended family members on social media further reduced psychological distress, so long as their family member's mental health was not in decline.

The study challenges the notion that social media, mobile technologies and the internet contribute to mental health crisis.

The researchers found that someone who uses a social networking site is 1.64 times more likely to avoid serious psychological distress.

The extent to which communication technologies affect psychological distress varies according to the type and amount of technologies people and their extended family members use.

Changes to the mental health of family members affect the psychological distress experienced by other families, but only if both family members are connected on social networking site.

Today, we've these ongoing, little bits of information popping up on our cell phones and Facebook feeds and that ongoing contact might matter for things like mental health, he said.

 

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                  https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                                                                      FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                     https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com

Contrary to popular belief, using social media and the internet regularly could improve mental health among adults and help fend off serious psychological distress, such as depression and anxiety, a study has found.

Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/science-and-environment/social-media-may-improve-mental-health-in-adults-743222.html

Contrary to popular belief, using social media and the internet regularly could improve mental health among adults and help fend off serious psychological distress, such as depression and anxiety, a study has found

Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/science-and-environment/social-media-may-improve-mental-health-in-adults-743222.html

Contrary to popular belief, using social media and the internet regularly could improve mental health among adults and help fend off serious psychological distress, such as depression and anxiety, a study has found

Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/science-and-environment/social-media-may-improve-mental-health-in-adults-743222.html