The Period of Social Distancing
Overburdened, Safety and Normal Functioning Threatened, Catastrophic Events, The Psychosocial Disturbance, Stress, Anguish, Magnitude of the event, The Degree of Vulnerability, Precarious Circumstances.
The year 2020 right from the beginning has been a roller coaster ride. There has been an ocean of change, a different way of life we are adapting to and of course it has come with a price the entire human population is paying for at the moment. The corona virus disease 2019, a minuscule virus ruling the entire world is controlling our lives. This Pandemic is uncertain, scary and stressful.
Even to our wildest nightmares, none imagined something like this was coming our way, a time like this! The unpreparedness for the situation has induced a lot of stress. The uncertainty of what is going to happen tomorrow has created fear. Our minds are just listening to the same thing again and again in different intensities. And of course due to this it is natural for people to be affected with panic.
The ‘New Normal’ we are trying to live in can be overwhelming. The measures being taken, people following a range of rules, the feeling of not being able to control our life, work difficulties, higher risks or the struggle to adapt is causing anger and frustration. The more one wants to have foreseeable future, the more one could find it confusing and conflicting.
It’s new, it’s different and such a thing has never happened before.
This effect is not only putting one’s physical health under threat but also has cost us our mental health to be at risk.
Our feelings and emotions are spontaneous and dynamic. There is no one feeling at the moment but a combination of many that we are all experiencing. There is not going to be one ‘normal’ response. Each one’s feelings are going to be different as there may or may not be a direct affect. Even the experiences are not going to be same based on personal views, control and predictability, personal effects of lock downs and the pandemic.
All across the globe are experiencing dysfunctional routines with disruptions in their overall lifestyle. And these unprecedented times of uncertainty, mental health issues among people may exacerbate. Individuals with a history of mental illness or currently experiencing one may be more vulnerable to the pandemic effects.
A large group of population is going through emotional breakdowns, feelings of anxiety, nervousness, loneliness and distress. Fear of contracting the disease, fear of going out and coming back home as carriers of the virus, the insecurity over loss of livelihood, fear of losing loved ones, and the need to make ends meet for survival can be instances that have impact on mental health.
The pandemic has surely induced fear and stress across populations and has affected the entire world.
There is definitely a need to normalize mental health, normalize seeking help and therapy but it is also very important to point out that not all social and psychological problems that occur can be described as diseases; the majority are normal reactions to an abnormal situation. All we need to do is be careful about not going over board and neglect the signs.
Mental Health being an important part of our overall well-being affects how we think, feel, and act. It may also affect our physical health, how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices during an emergency.
Psychological interventions are need of the hour and possible interventions by mental health professionals can instill hope, process trauma, find healthier ways of coping and help people improve resilience to effectively manage the crisis situation along with maintaining mental health and emotional well-being.
The vulnerable mental state of every individual is very evident at the moment.
When something is foreign to the world we live in, so very new and unknown to us, we feel distressed, we could be uncomfortable and in conflict with our minds. COVID-19 too has caused something similar to our mental health with an increased fear and anxiety across all age groups.
A lot of efforts are being taken to curb the virus including occasional
lock downs, wearing masks and physical distancing. These measures being adopted to reduce the spread of COVID-19, however have come along with its own limitations.
Physical distancing is being a reason to ‘social distancing’, isolation and loneliness.
The same time, lock downs have been distressing. The cut in salaries, loss of jobs, panic buying, running around for essentials, walking miles to reach home, starvation accompanied with a lot of trauma has left our minds with a devastating impact.
“We are all sailing in the same waters but in different boats…”
There is a link between our mental health and the pandemic that’s going on right now.
While facing these hard times, for all of us from all over the world, there is a common emotion — fear. A lot is in news about the pandemic and its effects and a lot of mental health conversations are doing the rounds with how there is a threat to our emotional and psychological well-being.
How exactly is this being a threat to us humans?
We all have needs; the basic human needs are requirements for survival which constitute both our physical and psychological needs. Our needs of feeling secure, having a job and life stability is vital to our resilience and self-esteem. Keeping in mind the endangered times we are facing, even our basic survival needs are under threat.
As much as the famous Maslow’s Theory of Human Motivation talks about the Hierarchy of Human Needs for subsistence and satisfaction, he also put forth an argument that failure to meet the needs at the different stages in hierarchy could lead to illnesses particularly mental health complications.
In times like these, exploring mental health effects is essential, when our needs are unmet, everything could feel intimidating, causing panic and anxiousness leading to mental distress and unrest. Social isolation and loneliness also have repercussions to poor mental health.
The Psychosocial Vulnerability does exist.
Physical distancing has led to a threat to human connections. We already live in a world where technology dominates life and human connections. The pandemic and the measure to fight against it have reduced social interactions, posing a serious threat to our psychosocial development and interpersonal relationships.
Rapid changes, uncertain times, traumatic experiences, ailments all at once amidst reduced social life are overwhelming.
We all need our family and friends. We need some social activity, a small conversation or even just some time together.
The times earlier to 2020 had with it more love and belongingness, more interactions, gatherings and social life. You could go out anywhere without fear, meet people, have the random conversations over a cup of coffee, hug anyone, party or just have the every weekend family get-togethers.
This is all curtailed. The ever present ‘Human touch’ that brings with it compassion and comfort is now limited. Physical distancing, a safety measure to prevent the spread of the virus is causing ‘social distance’, creating barriers to life itself.
With cases increasing, the pandemic wears on, and is likely to burden emotional well-being as physical and social distancing, school and business closures may lead to a potential financial distress, greater isolation with feelings of anxiety getting increasingly common.
The trauma it has got with it… Grief for loss of life, Reluctant or unmotivated social behavior, Uneasiness and discomfort in interpersonal or professional relationships due to a sudden shift in interactions, Powerless or lack of control as you don’t have a say in a lot of things happening around, Stigma about you avoiding others or them avoiding you, Under pressure to return to work when you can’t or when you feel it’s not safe to, Unsupported or disregarded, functional impairment of daily routines and limited life activities may lead to experiencing emotional distress and feelings of loneliness. .
Loneliness can be hard! Hard to be in and even harder to express. Isolation is its degree intensified. It feels dark in that part of the world. Let’s try to lighten up this place so we can see ourselves a little and also a little of the world.
A bundle of emotions, the value of mind and a heart to connect, we
homo sapiens are social beings and establishing emotional connection is our need of survival. We build relationships and bond emotionally. This gives a sense of strength and security.
The pandemic has its own course of action yet we need to keep going.
Emotional connectedness is a cornerstone of healthy human interactions. Let not physical distancing come in the way of connectivity and loneliness leading to isolation.
Technology a boon or a bane? In this one it’s a boon! Through online platforms you can virtually stay connected with your loved ones and feel less lonely. Make the most out of technology and bridge that social distance! We should never forget that there are never ending possibilities and hope.
As essential it is to stay connected, it is also to support one another.
‘Let’s take that highway of Compassion and Empathy in this time of Uncertainty…’
With a balance of self-care, looking after the people you love may help relieve stress. Building social support systems and volunteering can be rewarding, making you feel contented and worthy. We can still maintain emotional and social connections.
Being mindful to accommodate others’ needs is going to not just be supportive but also reduce the stress. Regularly display feelings of appreciation and let others know you are there for them.
There are several simple ways to be supportive.
- Mindful helping.
You could simply shop for those who can’t leave home or order online to help. Even buying extra groceries to give to the needy. Do not forward alarming headlines to family and friends. Check in with neighbors, family and friends regularly. - Listening and comforting.
Be kind and respectful. Express yourself and help others to do the same. Identify and share positive examples. Listen to others’ concerns. Let them know you’re there if they need you. Talk regularly and show support. Ring them up or have group Video calls. - Sharing is caring.
Things/information you found useful share it. Create a non-judgmental safe space to talk and share. Check how you can help them. - Normalize mental health.
Together do a mental health care activity. Support and encourage them to be proactive with their mental health. Normalize conversations about seeking professional help. Suggest a few coping behaviors. Display courage and positivity. - Encouraging emotional wellness.
Create or join support groups online. Build mutual support and reach out to people who might be finding it hard. Find activities of shared purpose and sense of connection. Reach out when you feel lonely. Let people know how you are feeling. Make an organized predictable schedule for the week. Engage in self-care activities. - Maintain social connectedness.
Connect with friends. Play a game together online. Post activities to one another online. Write messages to your loved ones. Laugh together. Do an activity together by face-timing or share the screen to watch a movie with friends online. - Self-care.
Do things that would give you pleasure. Work on your strengths. Engage in a healthy self-talk. Be proactive. See this as an opportunity to be self- compassionate and give yourself plenty time to rest.
Social isolation can have differing effects across age groups. Older adults are vulnerable as they are more likely than other age groups to be at an increased risk to the virus becoming especially important to practice physical and social distancing among other precautionary measures curtailing interactions with loved ones and caregivers, leading to increased feelings of loneliness which is an addition to already present feelings of uncertainty, fear and anxiousness due to the pandemic.
The limitations to social life, increasing loneliness can be linked to both poor mental and physical health.
Households with children or adolescents, people who already live alone, dysfunctional families and individuals suffering violence and abuse at home. The psychological impact of quarantine for these groups is greater and adversely negative.
With a long-term closure of child care centers and schools has not just affected children but also their parents, subsequently affecting families beyond disruption.
As we ourselves are struggling to cope with this pandemic then what about those little ones out there who wouldn’t really understand what’s happening, the whys and the how’s.
Just as we adults are overwhelmed by the on- going pandemic, expecting children to understand is unrealistic and might be even more difficult for them to adapt. Fewer opportunities to engage with peers may give rise to feelings of loneliness and frustration.
Be patient enough to understand those little ones, they don’t know what a pandemic is all about and try to create a safe environment, the best possible way to connect with children and adolescents is through your childhood stories, dedicate a play time, learn together and get creative with them, take their suggestions and involve them in helping you at home.
Communication, the best tool, ask your children about how they feel, reason out their problems and assist children talk about what you can do to help because children’s mental health is also mental health and their well-being is equally important.
Children too could face mental health problems! We are in so many different directions at the moment and in spite of the understanding it’s still overwhelming… Then what about them? Support your kid to maintain a routine by role modelling. Normalizing mental health at home with children is important, create the safe space so they can freely share their problems with you.
Supporting the elderly has indeed become necessary as they are the most vulnerable set, at risk, confused, lonely and not technologically equipped to still make it up to survive as compared to the other generations.
Encourage them and regularly check how they are feeling. Keep a check on their health and medication. Understand and listen to their needs. Teach and help them with technology and its use.
Make sure to have a lot of patience and give them your time so they could feel safe just like they’d make sure to safeguard their children once upon a time, now and always :)
‘We all know a candle never loses its light by lighting the other. More the candles, the brighter it becomes.’
Caring is always rewarding. Build together and make yourself and people around stronger.
Together we shall overcome!