Mental healthcare in COVID-19 era

COVID-19 has affected the mental health status of people around the world. Grief, anxiety, depression, stress has constantly affected people on and off and it seems the situation will continue for quite some time. The vulnerability of the pandemic has not only affected the primary people in contact like medical care, service men, security forces, patients affected but also citizens. Tips to uplift mental health…

Positive energies are important!

We’ve always heard people saying not be negative and keep a positive eye on life. It’s because thinking negatively about circumstances and our imagination of negative outcomes increases the stress capacity of our brain. Our stress hormone — cortisol —tends to attack the hippocampus of our brain which deals with emotions and memories. People with depression tend to have a smaller hippocampus and this is one of the main stress-causing affect. The lock of rumination has to be opened as it is developing negative thoughts and that happens when people start getting away from people. In this situation, people have trouble in finding joy and that can be sorted with forcing yourself onto things that you have once enjoyed doing. Treat it like a medicine and make it your cure. Interrupting rumination by “doing” is called act behavioral activation which acts as an anti-depression pill or any cognitive therapy.

Do not isolate

The brain interprets this pain as an infection and sends signals to isolate themselves until the pain goes away, now this isolation increases toxic rumination and therefore people tend to get more depressed. The simplest formula to ease these symptoms of depression is to “Talk to people”. This can be done by spending time with your loved ones and talking your heart out.

One of the best ways to boost yourself is to hire an active and a healthy lifestyle. Fetch on an active lifestyle by exercising, dancing, walking, household chores. This is the less used remedy to depression ailment, but most effective way to deal with depression. Our actively actions release serotonin which elevates our mood, motivation, energy levels and hence helps us to bring back ourselves

Also Read: Hello, social distancing! Goodbye, handshakes

Sleep is another super power that heals half of our problems, being well versed with the fact of how important sleep is to us, we sideline it and remain sleep deprived. Taking a 8- hour sleep is a must for our body. Dimming of lights, switching off all-electric gadgets and spraying up lavender spray on bed makes it easy. It’s a must try for everyone who are sleep deprived!

Sunlight is another powerful aspect to cure depression. The light therapy is an effective, standalone therapy for depression. Trying onto 15-20 min sunlight energises your mind. If not onto direct sunlight, try sitting in either a green house or near a window where sun rays reach you and stimulate the affect on brain and hence be safe, be home. Take Care!

Inputs by Aashmin Seth