-Sharika Anjum
Stress and anxiety are a personal demon in everyone's life irrespective of people's age. They are like two evil friends who will keep bullying you if you don't stand up for yourself. Where stress has always been a part of life but this world crisis has turned it up a notch turning our life upside down in every shape and form. Change of any type is a constant struggle in anyone's life even if human beings are able to adapt. When waking up to go to school has turned into turning on ZOOM meetings life has truly lost all normalcy. Stress and anxiety, two common issues that we do not talk much about. I do not remember if I have ever been told how to deal with stress related issues healthily. Specially during recent months where my stress related to my IGCSES are through the roof. I am anxious most of the time that I will do bad in my IGCSES. This crippling anxiety also affects me and I cannot properly concentrate when I study. Sometimes it is also difficult to enjoy small things in life when you are just stressing at the back of your mind. When outbreaks like this Coronavirus occurs, it is normal to feel both fear and anxiety.
A move that was quite unthinkable during January of 2020, quarantine and social distancing has become a common place scenario. I frankly do not want to believe that it has become our ‘new normal’. The motivation or the will and want to work during quarantine is abysmal to say the least. I cannot just get myself to do anything some days. I think it physically hurts my brain when I think about how much I want to go back to January 2020. These days more than the virus what scares me is what will happen after the lockdown is over? Will I be able to cope going to school every day when I have not gone there for months physically?
A quick search definition of stress and anxiety will say; stress is a response to an external cause (where there is a concern) like a deadline, exam or having an argument with a friend on the other hand anxiety is a reaction to stress which is internal and can persist even after the cause is gone.
A recent study that notes that the psychological impact of quarantine can be great, resulting in a range of mental health concerns from anxiety and anger to sleep disturbances, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Indeed, separate studies of quarantined patients of SARS, a previous coronavirus outbreak in 2003, found between 10% and 29% suffered PTSD. Lancet's report found mental health concerns are caused by stressors associated with quarantine, such as infection fears, frustration, boredom, inadequate supplies, lack of information, financial loss. Another study a Canadian study focusing on the effects of quarantine after the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic found an association between longer duration of quarantine with a high prevalence of anxiety and depression among people. (2) COVID-19 may affect the mental health of individuals at several layers of society, ranging from the infected patients, and health care workers, to families, children, students, patients with mental illness, and even workers in other sectors. Approach your feelings with curiosity, ask yourself, “What am I feeling right now? Why might I be feeling this way?” We often need to name our feelings in order to figure out how to attend to them which can guide us to better coping strategies.
Reading books, Journaling, practicing mindfulness and meditation are few ways we can deal with stress. when I meditated for 5 minutes it helped tremendously. There are tons of 5-minute guided meditation on YouTube that will seriously calm you down. Writing out whatever you think about negatively can make you aware what areas you need to work on yourself. Sleeping properly, you will instantly feel better when you sleep at the right time. Misinformation is a big part of media so curb your media intake. Take one day at a time. Work out even if it is for few minutes as it will definitely help you not to think for a while. When things get overwhelming take 10 deep breaths, blast music and dance like crazy. Talk to people and I mean it, whenever I feel out of sorts, I go to my close friends and sometimes also talk to myself. Try different coping mechanisms. If it is necessary seek out professional help.
Even if the future feels like it is covered with thick snow and heavy fog. It is only the glittering sun which is hope can guide us through. There will always be days you will be lost and exhausted. These days will always be the hardest. But you need to fight for yourself for your sun. The glittering sun will always melt the snow into beautiful flowing water. Hope is a gift. We need to turn hope into action. Start doing small things that make you happy. Always try to be kind to yourself and others. From the famous quote from BoJack Horseman- “It gets easier. Every day, it gets a little easier. But you gotta do it every day- that’s the hard part.”
Citations and Sources:
1. ‘CNBC’ and medical journal ‘The Lancet’
2. Hawryluck L, Gold WL, Robinson S, Pogorski S, Galea S, Styra R. SARS control and psychological effects of quarantine, Toronto, Canada. Emerg Infect Dis. 2004;10(7):1206–12.
3. Bao Y, Sun Y, Meng S, Shi J, Lu L. 2019-nCoV epidemic: address mental health care to empower society. Lancet. 2020;395(10224):e37–e8. Ryu S, Chun BC, Epidemiology of KS. An interim review of the epidemiological characteristics of 2019 novel coronavirus. Epidemiol Health. 2020;42:e2020006Chen Q, Liang M, Li Y, Guo J, Fei D, Wang L, et al. Mental health care for medical staff in China during the COVID-19 outbreak. Lancet Psychiatry. 2020;7(4):e15–e6
4. From Dr.Gabor Maté s compassionate inquiry.
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