Doctor suggests proper routine to cope with COVID-19 & lockdown stress
New Delhi: With the entire country in the lockdown and the threat of Coronavirus still lingering around, has taken a toll on the mental health of the people. From stress to depression and insomnia doctor Zehra Mehdi has said many doctors are receiving all kinds of distress calls from the people as the number of people who are in distress have increased.
Zehra Mehdi, a Delhi based psychotherapist spoke about the effect lockdown is having on people who have been calling her. "Any activity which is confining for a human being can provoke all kind of feelings like helplessness. This lockdown has made us realise that we do not have a choice and secondly this lockdown has not only confined but is also making people aware of the danger and it is psychologically affecting because we cannot see this danger," she said while explaining the effect of the lockdown.
She added that as people can't see the virus, but can only see the impact of it is making people paranoid. "This brings all kind of paranoia, stress and a large sense of despair. These things are seen in a political and social sense that has triggered different and would be affecting people differently," she added.
She further added that lockdown is one of the major issues that people are having a hard time dealing with. "Most of the people who are calling me they start with the lockdown but they usually boil down to how they can sit in just one room, because most of us are used to going out," said Zehra Mehdi.
However, Zehra Mehdi said that people are approaching her through social media wanting to take sessions, which are via video or phone calls. "First thing is that everything has turned online. Many services are available online, which also includes many self help group. People who have reached out to me have contacted me through facebook or through mails," she saoid.
Meanwhile, she suggested people to find a sense of certainty to cope with the lockdown. "As there is so much uncertainty outside they need to do something to find that certainty. I would suggest people to make a routine. It needn't be according to time as well. It is a process to bring some sense of order or sense of control," she said.
As cases of Coronavirus keep on increasing and a 14 days lockdown ahead of people, mental stress is bound to increase. However, doctor suggests a proper routine might help people to deal with it.
