Quarantine, Lockdown, and Your Mental Health — Most Common Problems
As we all know, the most happening personality these days is Corona! Who in today’s world is not familiar with Covid-19, and terms like social distancing, quarantine, lockdown or shutdown, and pandemic? For how many days have you been in self-isolation or quarantine mode now? This virus has made lives chaotic for people across the world, for people in all sectors, and almost everyone is affected either directly or indirectly!
“All for good”, the doctors, scientists, researchers, and leaders ensure us, and I absolutely agree — social distancing works, yes. It’s not a matter of individual safety — we do not want to play carriers and go infect several others, too, so it is a social responsibility. But let’s be frank, it does not feel all that great, does it? Without a doubt, the poor people suffer the most, but almost everyone is panic-stricken now.
Even those who have always longed for time alone, time away from work, physical and mental relaxation are now beginning to question if this is what they really want. Some of those who self-identify as introverts had also expressed their dissatisfaction with being in social distancing mode for weeks together. Yes, basic supplies are being hoarded (out of panic, which is unnecessary, they say), transportation and movement have temporarily been stopped and many are stuck in places far away from home, those who depend on daily wages and those who cannot work from home are jobless, which could trigger your fears, and several hundreds of investors have faced big losses! But how could all this affect your mental health and mine?
One doesn’t have to necessarily be diagnosed with mental health issues to experience frustration and go through one or more of the following problems. If it is hard on us, it is only be going to be tougher for those dealing with mental health issues already, like how bad food habits can affect all, and those with severe physical health issues can be easier targets.
- Feeling Anxious. This is the most common problem during any disaster or chaos. Like for anyone working in the health sector, my initial concern was about my clients, too. How will they be able to come for therapy? Should I reschedule my sessions? But are they in a position to reach out? What are they going through? Then strict quarantine became the norm, and my scope for concern simply became wider: where will anyone, family or friends or clients or me go for basic needs like groceries and in time of emergency? What about the plans I’d made for the coming few weeks, personal and professional? Are we equipped enough as individuals and as a society to deal with these times? When will this end? Uncertainty can and will make anyone feel anxious. It is only normal. And it does not feel good when the uncertainty extends. https://www.utoronto.ca/news/it-s-impossible-predict-length-covid-19-pandemic-says-vivek-goel-globe-and-mail
- Feeling Fearful. The difference between feeling anxious and feeling fearful? Anxiety could mostly be the mind’s response to some threat perceived with regard to the long-term or big picture, whereas fear is what we experience as a result of something scary in the minute, in the present. If you are secure, and you do not have the need to feel fear, consider yourself lucky. There are several hundreds stranded because of the sudden lockdown, which has left everyone including government officials and authorities confused. And many are worried if the physical uneasiness they have developed recently could be signs of Covid-19? And for those who are compelled to work in the face of threat in conditions where chances are high that they could end up having the disease themselves! Fear is not a pleasant emotion.
3. Loneliness. This is probably one of the most common and most difficult issues to deal with during quarantine! Man is a social animal, and whether we like it or not, we are all used to some kind of social interaction and moving around, being outdoors for a short amount of period at least. Now, you can’t even go out to buy milk or have a banter with your neighbour or go for a walk in the park or meet your gym friend! Little to no social interaction — and many of us are sadly far away from our families and friends, so what do you do with 24 hours a day? While it was the beginning of March when many of us felt as though only one month had passed by, when time seemed to be flying indeed, suddenly, we are dealing with reality none of us were mentally prepared for. You can’t even take your dog out for a walk! Even those who were inactive for long on social media have started to check in because smartphone and Internet are all the company we have now! https://www.bps.org.uk/news-and-policy/bps-cyberpsychologists-say-being-active-social-media-will-help-you-cope-isolation
Killing time and feeling relaxed could have never been harder, and it shows! Covid-19 crisis has taken a huge toll on daily life, as quarantine is not something we were prepared for.
4. Mood swings. Some of the most social, optimistic, and cheerful people I personally know are also going through mood swings, and are not as cheerful as they normally would be. Anger, resentment, the need to vent out, the need to isolate oneself even further, laughing at jokes you’d not have found funny earlier (when you were too busy for such silliness), and trying to cope with it all in different ways — a common situation in most cases. We are all victims of mood swings during times like these, only on different levels. Just make sure you do not wrongly direct your anger at someone who can’t be really blamed or make some major move impulsively that you might regret later.
5. Intrusive Thoughts. Whoever said “an idle mind is a devil’s workshop” couldn’t have been more right. When I should have been out there conducting a psychoeducational workshop for children and adolescents, I was at home trying hard to read a book, but mixed feelings wouldn’t let me focus either. That was just the start. With all chores that need to be done with done, with several other plans cancelled, with too much time at hand, it is only normal that the mind would begin to wander. It is then that I realized how hard it must be for victims of grief and loss, trauma, and obsessive compulsive disorder. I had strange new thoughts hitting my mind out of nowhere, thoughts I’d never have otherwise, and this instantly reminded me of my clients from the past that were struggling with OCD! Those tears, I can still remember. Well, for those of us who are thankfully not going through mental health issues like these, it is relatively less difficult. But an idle, wandering mind is not good— would you be surprised if you went back to thinking about someone you wished were with you now or how you regret where you are in life because of bad life choices you feel you have made or thinking of trying to cope up in unhealthy ways? It could be difficult, but try hard to keep yourself occupied, please?
Feeling uneasy, uncomfortable, frustrated is okay … You are being human. By being at home, you are helping yourself and others. Cheers to you if you are trying your best to keep yourself in a healthy state of mind! And even better if you think you can and you are helping others right now. Yes, these are trying times, and it is hard for all of us, but maybe this could help, the one line I always tell myself? No matter what it is, it is only temporary, and this too shall pass.
Among all this, if you feel that things are out of your control, if you feel the need to talk to someone, if all this put together is weighing you down, please feel free to connect. Do not hesitate.
