How to Keep Calm During Corona virus Crisis?

Mental Health in COVID Crisis is Important!

It’s hard to stay calm. Not only in India, but people around the countries in the world also find it tough to deal with the crisis of coronavirus. People have lost their jobs, the economy is on its lower side, the cases of domestic violence increased, the country is fighting against all odds to shine better, a lot of loved ones have left us forever. The reasons to have a negative state of mind are many. But the hope that everything would get better keeps us all going.

The emotions of fear, having butterflies in our stomach, uncertainty are normal human emotions in such a crisis. The problem arises when these emotions take a toll over our mental and physical health and put us in situations of depression and other mental health diseases or disorders such as anxiety disorders.

Though mental health was less talked about a few years back till Deepika Padukone made a bold confession about her fight with depression; it has never been less important. With the sad demise of Mr. Sushant Singh Rajput owing to depression, the talks on mental health are back. The year 2020 has taught us all the importance of mental health in a new way.

It has been noted that 45% of people with depression will also suffer from anxiety. It is important to realize that depression is different from the usual mood fluctuations and short-lived emotional responses to challenges in everyday life. Clinical depression is a mental health disorder characterized by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life.

Anxiety disorder, on the other hand, is defined as a mental health disorder characterized by feelings of worry, anxiety, or fear that are strong enough to interfere with one’s daily activities.

The point here is that these mental health issues have to be taken seriously, especially during this crisis. Let us focus on ways so that negative emotions can be dealt with and serious mental health disorders can be prevented and managed.

1.      Accept reality!

The first step to any harsh situation in life is acceptance. Yes, the crisis isn’t limited to depleting our health. It is taking a toll on our economic conditions as well. Yes, it’s not normal or some say it is the ‘new normal’. Yes, it’s scary for a lot of us. Yes, the happenings of the next day or the next moment are uncertain. Accept it!
When we mentally, physically, and emotionally accept the on-going situation in our lives; we find the courage to deal with it all. That’s how well the human brain has been designed. When we run away from the situation and stress in our lives; they accumulate to make us remain in fear and take a toll on our mental health. Acceptance is the first step to success and healing.

2.      Take one day at a time!

Agreed that life might not have been this uncertain ever before. But do you really think life was always certain? No!  Therefore, not only during these times of crisis but even when these times pass; take one day a time. Do your best today and leave the rest on the strength you believe in.
Addressing the present moment makes you give your best or even more than the best to present the task at hand. Over-thinking about tomorrow or regretting your past makes you lose the present moment which you can make productive.

3.      Life has not always been a bed of roses!

Many of us broke-up with the person we thought we loved the most. Many of us had fall-outs in our friendships in which we were emotionally invested. Many of us had to leave our jobs or business partnerships in which we had done our best. Many of us have survived on one meal a day or even less than that in our bad days. We all have our struggles which we had faced before this COVID crisis. We all have faced difficult situations. All of us have got out of them. Realize that strength and strive for a better tomorrow because situations never stay the same!

4.      Talk about it!

Yes, we cannot talk about our failures and the reasons for our sadness with everyone. But there are people who would be ready to listen to us at any time of the day. If there is none, we have nature with us. Speak to plants at your home, speak to pets at your home, or speak out to the strength you believe in. Go out in the park and let the freshness of nature heal you. Letting out your feelings decreases the chances of pounding negative emotions and mental health disorders.

5.      Respect secrets!

One of the important reasons people keep their lives’ unhappy moments to themselves is because they are afraid that their secrets would not be kept. If someone comes out and speaks out and confides in you about his or her emotional distress or financial situation or any other tragedy of life; keep the secret to yourself. Do not make it a topic for a gossip session. By making it gossip or revealing it to someone else, we increase the chances of pounding negative emotions and increased risk of mental health diseases of people around us.

6.      Delete Negativity!

Though you should never keep people or items that deplete your mental health in your life; it is all the more important now when we are facing a crisis. Avoid talking with people who always make you see the negative side of the situation. Be calm at your workplace and home which is only possible when you do not let negativity enter your brain even subconsciously.

7.      Limit and filter your exposure to news and social media!

It is good to stay updated with the current situation to take the necessary precautions but over-loading yourself about the rising number of coronavirus cases or the fake news on social media only harms your mental health. Keep the updates timely and avoid the news at least an hour before you sleep or as soon as you wake up in the morning.

8.      Realize that you cannot change everyone’s opinion about you!

You may not have filed for notice period last year because you needed a hike. It might have been due to the stress of the office environment. But when you ask for a salary hike this year your boss might bring up last year's incident and may believe that it was also due to a want of increment. It is quite hard to change this opinion! So, let it be.

Similarly, you meet so many people in life. Everyone does not think the same about you. You may not like a lot of opinions about yourself but you cannot go to everyone and explain. The best is to utilize your time and energy to make yourself more productive rather than thinking about it.

9.      Don’t compare, don’t judge!

Since we would expect the same from the others, we need to be a little more sensitive towards others as well. Let us not compare our situations with others and let us refrain from judging how a particular person reacts in a certain situation.

10.   Don’t hesitate in seeking professional help for health!

Good health is the most beautiful thing we can gift ourselves. Get your routine check-ups done. Consult a doctor for depleting mental and physical health. In the case of a homeopathic doctor, case taking makes you reveal a lot of your problems, and medicines are given according to your over-all symptoms. Homeopathy works on mental health and strengthens your response towards stress and difficult situations in your life. It can prevent and manage anxiety, depression, and other serious mental health issues. Remember, do not take over-the-counter medicines, get them prescribed by a homeopathic doctor.

Stay safe, work hard, and stay happy!