Written by: Pranathi Kolavennu, secretary of Fremont Mental Health Organization
The coronavirus has wreaked havoc all across the globe. Several countries have forced their residents to go into quarantine to help slow the spread of the disease. While staying in quarantine is crucial to hinder the impact of the virus, it has been found that being in quarantine for long periods of time can have a negative impact on people's mental health. Let's take a look at the most common stressors during quarantine and how they can be controlled.
Here are a few most common stressors during quarantine:
Length of quarantine: Three different studies show that longer durations of quarantine are associated with poorer mental stability, especially in individuals that suffer from PTSD, avoidance issues, and anger issues.
Fear of infection: Participants of eight different studies expressed fear of being infected or infecting others, especially if they experienced any physical symptoms related to the disease. Fear of the disease can be related to future psychological issues.
Frustration/Boredom: Feelings of frustration and boredom may be increased during quarantine due to reduced social and physical contact with others, lack of routine, and not being able to participate in day-to-day activities.
Lack of supplies; Inadequate resources further led to frustration and caused anxiety and anger issues in individuals up to 4-6 months after quarantine.
Inadequate/Misleading information: Participants in studies of impacts of the SARS virus expressed having felt confusion and panic due to the difference in approach, style and content of different news media during the pandemic, lack of clarity in risk assessment, and lack of transparency from government and public health officials.
These factors combined, have caused a variety of issues in people who were quarantined including exhaustion, detachment from others, irritability, insomnia, poor concentration and indecisiveness, deteriorating work performance, and reluctance to work or consideration of resignation. To avoid these symptoms, the following can be practiced:
Getting the right information: It is important to be skeptical towards new information because it could be misleading, exaggerated, or even just a rumor. Do not believe everything you read/said on the internet including social media, unofficial websites, and even news media. Make sure you get information from official government websites and health officials. Once you have the right information, put it to good use and take necessary precautions to protect yourself. That way, you are less likely to panic unnecessarily.
Try your best to obtain supplies: No, this does not mean fighting for toilet paper at grocery stores. It means keeping an eye out for opportunities to obtain resources if you are for any reason unable to get them yourself. For example, several schools are offering grab and go lunches to students who do not have enough food at home. Restaurants such as Taco Bell are even offering free food. Car dealerships are relieving car owners of payment for a few months. Local shelters are providing free masks, food, and medication. Volunteers are bringing groceries to homes in need. Take advantage of these resources to reduce the stress of not having enough resources during this pandemic.
Reduce boredom, increase concentration: Being in isolation means you have to physically stay away from people, but it does not mean you can't be there for them virtually. Being alone with your thoughts for long periods of time can have lasting negative impacts. If you have the resources, you can avoid this by frequently communicating with others. Make sure to stay in touch virtually with your friends and family. Update them about your status and check up on them. Use social media to explore the internet. Being in quarantine does not mean you cannot have fun. Use the internet to communicate with loved ones and reduce boredom/frustration.
Help the community: There are several people in need right now, and volunteering to help them or appreciate them can make you feel helpful and satisfied. Helping people has been proven to make you a better person. There are several ways to help people during this pandemic, including stitching masks for distribution, volunteering to help in homeless shelters, bringing food and other resources to those in need, and showing your support to frontline workers.
Please use these tips to take care of your mental health and help anyone who you think may be suffering during these difficult times. Don't be afraid to speak out about your mental issues and don't be afraid to ask for help! Make sure to take care of your health (wash your hands!).
Here is a link to get accurate information about the coronavirus: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
If you are in crisis or know someone in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741. You can reach Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860 (U.S.) or 877-330-6366 (Canada) and The Trevor Project at 866-488-7386.
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