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Writer's pictureDr Bakshi

Mental health during covid – 19






In covid – 19 many experience the havoc situation of the severe pandemic but apart from the severity that covid – 19 has gathered or gotten there were other major things that we did not mention – Mental Health.


Mental Health and its significance gained utmost importance at the time of Covid when the life outside our houses was shattered and inside us, chaos prevailed which kept us haunted and the pain that arose out of loneliness, separation, and financial incapability gave us unbearable pain throughout the span of covid.


How has Covid affected us?


The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted our way of life. Many of us are dealing with difficult and daunting problems. You, the people you care about, and those around you will become more robust because of learning good coping mechanisms for stress.


Among its effects are the following:


Feelings of anxiety, worry, rage, despair, numbness, or frustration

• Appetite, energy, desire, and interest charges

• Having trouble focusing and making judgments


Physical symptoms including,


aches and pains, stomachaches, rashes, or headaches

• chronic health issues and mental health concerns getting worse

• increased alcohol consumption, use of illicit substances (such as heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine), and abuse of prescription medicines (like opioids)


How has covid bombarded our mental health?




Mental health got deeply affected at the time of covid – 19 as we came to realise many things together at one time.


We were left alone, separated, or heartbroken and there was nothing or no one to rely on.

To find solace or peace many became the victims of depression, and alcoholics, many attempted suicides and ended their lives.


Everyone often experiences higher levels of anguish and anxiety during a crisis like the COVID-19 epidemic, especially because of social isolation. As they try to strike a balance between the responsibility of caring for patients and worries about their well-being and the well-being of their family and friends, doctors and other frontline healthcare professionals are particularly susceptible to poor mental health effects.



How to deal with uncertainty or any global pandemic in life.






1. Get enough sleep


Take a proper 7-8 hours of sleep for better brain and body functioning. Stick to the typical routine.


2. Eat healthily


Pick a well-balanced diet. Refined sugar and junk food should be limited. Limit your caffeine intake because it can make stress, anxiety, and sleep issues worse.


3. Avoid substance abuse


You already have an increased risk of lung illness if you smoke or vape. Your risk goes up much worse because of COVID-19 damages the lungs. Alcohol can make problems worse and make it harder for you to cope. To cope, stay away from narcotics unless your doctor has recommended them.


4. Limit your screen time


Turn off electronics occasionally throughout the day, ideally between 30 and 60 minutes before going to bed. Reduce the amount of time you spend in front of screens, including those on your phone, tablet, computer, and television.


5. Relax & recharge yourself and repeat your routine





Schedule some alone time. Even a short period of solitude can be reviving, calm your thoughts, and lessen worry. Practices like deep breathing, tai chi, yoga, mindfulness, or meditation are beneficial to a lot of people. Whatever calms you down, do it: take a bubble bath, listen to music, read a book or both. Choose a technique that is effective for you and use it frequently.


6. Get busy get occupied


You can break the loop of unfavourable thoughts that feed anxiety and despair by engaging in constructive diversions. Take advantage of pastimes you can perform at home, such as reading, journaling, crafting, playing games, or cooking. Or decide on a new undertaking or organise that closet you said you'd do. An effective coping mechanism for anxiety is to take constructive action.


7. Enlist your priorities





Don't let making a life-changing list of things to accomplish while you're home overwhelmed you. Every day, make attainable goals and plan the steps you can take to achieve them. No matter how modest, give yourself credit for every step you take on the correct path. additionally, acknowledge that some days will be more favorable than others.


8. Be purposeful


Helping those in your neighborhood can give you purpose. A great method to help ourselves is to help others. Check on your friends, relatives, and neighbors, especially the elderly, by email, text, or phone, for instance. Ask if there is anything needed, such as groceries or a prescription picked up, if you know someone unable to leave their home.


9. Don’t allow the stigma to perpetuate





People who experience stigma may feel alone and even abandoned. When friends and members of their community shun them out of concern that they might contract COVID-19, they might feel dejected, hurt, and furious.


In numerous ways, stigma is bad for people's health and well-being. During a pandemic, stigmatized groups may frequently lack the supplies they require to take care of themselves and their family. Additionally, those who fear stigma may be less inclined to seek medical attention.






The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on people's emotional and social functioning, as well as individual and societal health, are grave. In addition to providing medical care, already overburdened healthcare professionals also play a crucial role in assessing the psychosocial needs of their patients and providing psychosocial support to patients, other healthcare professionals, and the public. These tasks ought to be incorporated into general pandemic health care.



When you decide to seek help, schedule an appointment with Dr. Bakshi.

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