2 minute read
Mental Health in a Pandemic
WE ARE CURRENTLY SUBMERGED IN A WORLD WHERE THERE IS A CONSTANT
OBSESSION WITH ONE’S PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS – DO I HAVE A TEMPERATURE, IS THAT NIGGLE IN MY THROAT SOMETHING MORE, COULD THAT MILD SHORTNESS OF BREATH MEAN THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH MY LUNGS?
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The COVID-19 pandemic has not only risk so that you can take reasonable pregiven us a physical disease to contend cautions. Use a credible source such as the with but also, and often overlooked, a disrupWHO or NICD. tion in our mental health. The incessant tem• Lessen the constant news exposure perature taking, and hand sanitizing is taking that we all seem to have grown very its toll on us all. Not to mention the threat of accustomed to. Do not have your TV or retrenchment, loss of income and isolated radio tuned onto the media coverage family members who we can’t visit. Anxiety throughout the day it can cause more levels and depression have increased during worry and agitation. this very uncertain time. Those who were • Consider times in your life where things already anxious are now hitting their breakhave been tough and you’ve managed to ing point and those that were previously come through the other side. Use these ‘fine’ are now starting to experience constant skills to deal with the anxiety and worry worry and a feeling of being overwhelmed. If caused by the pandemic. you are reading this and feel out of control, If you’ve implemented the above know that you are not alone and there are measures and are still experiencing some some measures to help you cope better. symptoms of anxiety or depression, then it • Maintain a healthy lifestyle – eat a wellis best if you make an appointment to see balanced diet, get good quality sleep, and your doctor. He/she can explain the various exercise moderately for about 30 minutes pharmacological options available to you a day. Please don’t take the exercise to the as well as recommend a psychologist to extreme though as it can lead to injury or help with development of coping skills. feelings of inadequacy if you aren’t posting So remember the next time you are all your workout videos on social media. worrying about your temperature, take • Avoid excessive alcohol consumption a quick check of your mental health, it’s and smoking to deal with your emotions. just as important! • Gather the facts regarding COVID-19 to ensure that you accurately determine your By Dr Laura Troskie, www.umhlangagp.net.
