Business and Management Department
The recent Coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic has had a significant impact on many communities in several nations. People who are exposed to disease outbreaks have both direct effects (such as stringent control) and indirect effects (such as income loss), all of which can have an adverse effect on mental health. This article will go through the psychological approaches that can be applied to the various mental health conditions that manifest in areas where disease outbreaks have occurred. These solutions could be offered by any person using straightforward language.
Following issues are covered in this article:
1. Managing anxiety post-COVID
2. Calming techniques to control the mind
3. Assisting with grieving resolution
4. Offering help to problem-solvers
5. Dealing with distressed people
Although there are many issues that cannot be covered, the mentioned ones are critical to be addressed as fear and psychological impact have taken a toll on the minds of individuals.
1. Managing anxiety post-COVID
Social isolation has affected a person’s functioning and is linked to severe psychological anguish.
Steps:
Validate the anxiety/stress feelings and adopt a non-judgmental attitude
Examine the issues individuals are still suffering. Fear for their health and the health of those they love still pertains. Anger and aggravation over being stigmatized. Guilt about being unable to carry out regular employment or find a better one is still an issue. Concerns for family members and their survival.
Provide them with trustworthy sources of information to ease their concerns about their health; maintaining their routines as before to gain focus and deciding what to do in the future; and encourage them to engage in physical activity. Ask them to take up a pastime to keep themselves busy. Recommend relaxing techniques like yoga and deep breathing.
2. Calming Techniques (Abdominal Breathing)
The respiratory center of the brain regulates breathing, which is a bodily autonomic activity. As part of the “fight-or-flight reaction,” our breathing rate and pattern alter when we are under stress. Controlled breathing can lead to a variety of physiological changes, such as: Reduced heart rate and blood pressure, decreased blood levels of stress hormones, decreased lactic acid buildup in muscle tissue, decreased blood levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide, balanced increased immune system performance, enhanced stamina and physical vigor, and Elevated mood and wellness.
Individuals with mental health problems can be advised to take up this beneficial technique:
• Take a seat in a comfortable position.
• Take your wallet, belt, and any other jewelry or accessories out of your shirts, pants, or dress. Relax your shoulders.
• Place your hands on your lower tummy so that your two middle fingers are in contact with it. Close your eyes.
• Exhale slowly and deeply, sending the air all the way down to your abdomen so that it expands (keep your shoulders relaxed). As the belly expands with each breath, you should notice that your middle fingers naturally separate a little.
• Breathe out slowly or exhale. Now that the breath is leaving your body, you may feel how your belly automatically draws inward.
3. Assisting with Grieving Resolution
Tragically, pandemics have resulted in the loss of family members, friends, and loved ones. The inability to attend funerals, shame about not being able to save them, and other factors have deeply impacted people, causing them to lose confidence, trust, and the ability to look forward.
Steps: Sensible handling of these individuals is required. Recognize their sentiments of loss and tell them you cannot even begin to comprehend how challenging it must be for them. Let them express their feelings, including any tears, horror, or disbelief. If they are sobbing or in shock, stay with them and avoid interfering. Give them space to verbalize their emotions. If it is possible, let them converse about the loved one. If the person is prepared to speak, let them talk about the loved one. Find out what they require and aid them in making contact with those who can support them. Never divulge any information without authorization. Do not criticize people or families since they all grieve in various ways. Never condemn or impose your beliefs on others. If their emotional issues worsen, if they continue to experience extreme suffering and suicidal thoughts, tell them to contact mental health professionals or seek professional assistance.
4. Offering Help/Solving Problems for Sufferers
Along with the infection, pandemics also cause a number of other issues, such as social and economic difficulties. People may feel overburdened and find it difficult to handle issues. The straightforward problem-solving techniques listed below might be useful.
Once the issue has been located, ask the person to identify all potential remedies. Then, assist them in selecting one or two that would be most suited to try. Make a time for the next visit so that they can discuss their experiences with these solutions. Help the individual understand that if the issues are unlikely to be resolved, they may persist, and they should consider strategies to minimize them. Silence to rage are possible reactions. Be ready to handle all of these feelings.
5. Dealing with Distressed People
People seeking treatment or their worried family members may become agitated. Among the tactics that can be applied in these circumstances are: Maintain a safe distance of approximately an arm’s length from the subject. Remain composed and cool under pressure. Do not react until you have evaluated the scenario. The option of not responding could also be a tactic. When you begin to speak, do so quietly and non-aggressively. The distress takes a long time to heal, and the mind needs to be deviated from what is gone. Help and support each child, woman, man who is still sobbing and motivate them to live life again with enthusiasm.
Conclusion
The psychological strategies discussed can be applied to a wide range of problems seen in many different contexts after COVID-19. There must be literature on the unique requirements of people with severe mental illness during pandemics because the focus during a disaster is on stress- and anxiety-related problems. Strategies to continue care must be created because a sizable fraction of people with serious mental illness need to be managed. People with severe mental illness may suffer repercussions if access to care is interrupted or denied. In serious mental diseases like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, the chance of relapsing increases significantly if medication is stopped. Relapse or worsening of symptoms could have detrimental effects in a setting with few resources and stressed-out families. Giving individuals access to drugs (physical or psychological) is crucial. Come up with solutions to make society stabilize.