How to protect your mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

Don’t watch the news, don’t let it preoccupy your mind. Stay updated, of course, but don’t constantly watch the news or read it online. Happiness and satisfaction come from within. Our problems also might not be related to the outside world but coming from within. Be in the here-and-now and try to have joyful experiences to feel happy.

Read more: How to deal with the anxiety of living through a pandemic

Domestic violence is very serious and should be dealt with seriously. Factors behind the act or any explanations for it do not matter - it should not be allowed in society. Please report it and seek help.

I find it very surprising that they were able to procure sedatives as there are many checks and controls in place. What you should do is report the supply and supplier. Treat this as an addiction and get them the help they need. 

No, in my opinion, popping a pill isn’t the answer. Treat this as a disaster, like a fire in the house, for example. You wouldn’t just take a pill and go off to sleep. You’ll escape and call for help. So do what is recommended during the pandemic. Stay home, practice hand hygiene and take all the precautions possible. 

Depression is a disorder. It affects more than 264 million people globally. The symptoms are loss of interest, appetite, and concentration, hopelessness, sadness and fatigue. If these symptoms persist for two weeks or more and it impairs your life functionality in a consistent manner, it could point to depression. Depression is a result of chemical imbalances in the brain. If there are other stressors, psychotherapy may be advised. It needs to be seen as a medical illness.

On the other hand, a short-term emotion like feeling low is not a disorder - but a mood.

Faith plays a positive role in most people’s lives. How it helps you - depends on you. I believe that science and faith can go hand in hand. If you have a condition and praying makes you feel good, do it. But don’t ignore medicines you’re prescribed by a doctor for it.

Ignore the short-term situation. The pandemic will not last forever but your decisions may affect you for a while to come. Take the call based on the long term in which COVID-19 isn’t a problem. 

We can’t say with absolute certainty that food and mental health have a strong relationship. So eat what you like eating - as long as you take care of your medical needs. To me - food is all that counts. 

Read more: What to eat during lockdown

The stigma associated with mental health began in older times when medications weren’t so advanced. They could sometimes cause changes in temperament and personality. But medications today are much more advanced and don’t cause the same side-effects - so the stigma doesn’t stand true. In popular fiction, comedy, crime and violence are being correlated to mental health, which feeds the stigma. Fighting the stigma starts with you - take initiative and ensure your circle thinks of mental health disorders as medical problems.

No matter what your relationship is, the more time you spend together, the more you will fight. But life is all about people. We need to understand that everyone is feeling similarly stressed out and on edge. Our reaction threshold has become wobbly. (Read more: What is cabin fever?)

Try to have some structure - like designated personal time and shared time - and that’ll help. People who can’t meet each other are also fighting more. It’s all very normal in this situation. 

Read more: Tips for healthy relationship

Please talk to someone you find comforting. Change your location or distract yourself. Have a glass of water - that helps many people calm themselves down. Try to get your breathing under control. Find out which of these techniques works best for you.

Read more: What to do if you are hyperventilating

Therapy in India, compared to worldwide standards, isn’t all that expensive. But, of course, that depends on the individual and what their financial situation is as well. Not everyone needs therapy but there are helplines available if you can’t afford therapy. Please call if you’re in a crisis and you will get help. You just need to reach out. Most people in the government health sector are remarkable and they’re so involved in academics. Even the private sector has great resources. Now you can get therapy online as well. So mental health care isn’t very expensive if you think about that. 

The key is to accept it and not try to fight it. Don’t let yourself believe that you’re immune. Follow the instructions and stay at home. We used to have no work-life balance, no time to spend with our families before this and it used to cause us so much stress and unhappiness. Now suddenly we have time and we don’t know what to do with it. We’re facing withdrawal from our previous situation. Be positive, connect with your family and stay in touch with others through social media.

Read more: 10 safe ways to engage socially while maintaining a healthy distance

A few months ago, we wanted more days to work from home and now that we have them, we don’t like it. We’ve been asked to adjust to a new situation that we weren’t prepared for. And we weren’t given an option. Earlier, you could complain about the commute and traffic - we just don’t have any of those things to complain about now. So we complain about work from home. If you maintain a schedule, stay positive and manage your time, you may feel less stressed.

Instead of therapy, turn to music, poetry, dance! Take whatever you enjoy and share those experiences with your friends. When it comes to music, slow beats and positive lyrics may help more - but anything you like goes.

The honest answer is that we don’t know what’s going to happen - there is a lot of uncertainty right now. We don’t know what will happen but what’s important to know is that this situation can’t last forever. We don’t know what it’ll be like when it gets over but we’ll get through it together. Each and every one of us has faced many odds and come through them. This is a collective setback, not a personal one - we’re all going through this. All you have to do is maintain your self-belief. 

Panic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder in which you have frequent panic attacks. A panic attack is a sudden episode of extreme panic. Each episode would last for an average time of 45 minutes. The symptoms can be sweating, shaking, choking, dizziness, increased heart rate, giddiness, nausea, gastrointestinal symptoms, etc. Panic attacks can be unprovoked as well. In panic disorder, your mind starts anticipating the next attack and you start trying to avoid triggers - like being in a certain physical space, certain people, etc.

Kids can’t go out to play and they can’t meet their friends - they’re all having a really tough time. If they have creative interests, encourage them to pursue those. Get them to speak with their friends on the phone or online. You can read with them or play board games as a family activity. Keep them occupied as much as you can. And don’t worry about them watching too much television right now - let them do what they want. Movies, TV shows, it’s all okay. Just don’t push them too much right now.

Read more: COVID-19 prevention tips for parents with young children

Use this as an opportunity to give it up. Whether it’s substance abuse like alcoholism or smoking addiction or a gaming addiction - this time can be used to remove the temptation and give it up completely. Keep yourself hydrated, pick up healthy activities. Talk to a doctor in case of extreme withdrawal symptoms, like nausea, physical distress, tremors, etc.

Read more: How to give up smoking

The best tip is to have a routine. It is extremely important to stick to your routine daily to maintain productivity. Getting dressed in your work clothes also helps. It’s all about the conditioning of the brain - your mind might not feel ready for work if you’re still in your home clothes.

Read more: Tips on how to work from home during a lockdown

If you live in a different city, it’s the same as when we didn’t have the virus threat. The only difference is that you can’t travel to see them, which if you’re in a job, you couldn’t have done at the drop of a hat anyway. So do what you did before - stay in touch with your family and talk to your friends when you feel alone. Send jokes, forwards - stay connected. 

The novel coronavirus infection doesn’t come only with breathlessness. There are many other symptoms like cough, fever, gastrointestinal issues, etc. Acute breathing issues induced by anxiety will go away by themselves. Restlessness, sleep problems may also accompany anxiety. If you’re still doubtful, call a doctor. You can even try telemedicine - it is very popular and widespread right now. 

When we talk about acceptance, it means to accept the worry, uncertainty and change in lifestyle. That’ll help you adapt to the situation. Don’t accept in a way that you don’t do anything to keep yourself safe - you have to still remain on guard.

Read more: Hygiene and social distancing while buying groceries and other essentials