Covid-19: Experts suggest picking up new hobbies to cope with stress amid lockdown

BHOPAL: The corona clampdown is taking a toll on mental health of Bhopalis- specially the ones who are staying all by themselves. Staying away from home during the coronavirus pandemic has been hard, and has led to an increase in anxiety among young people who are struggling to deal with isolation and insecurity.“I couldn’t go back to my hometown in Bihar. Staying away from family in a global crisis situation is a frightening experience. There are some of us in the hostel but the comfort and safety of home is something we constantly miss,” said Neha Kumari, a journalism student.A review of 24 research studies conducted by medical journal Lancet earlier this year, on the impact of various forms of lockdowns across the world, revealed that people developed symptoms such as stress, low mood, insomnia, anxiety, depression, anger, irritability, emotional exhaustion and post-traumatic stress symptoms.Dr Manish Borasi, a psychiatrist who is working along with other mental health professionals in Bhopal on a dedicated helpline for people during the lockdown, said, “A lot of them feel helpless in such a situation. And in some cases this manifests into physical issues as well. I can give you the example of a youth from Bihar who started panicking and feeling breathless over the current situation. We managed to get help for him after contacting his family and employers.”Dr Borasi added that the lockdown has led to a spurt in mental health issues, which has resulted in him receiving more and more calls every day. “Apart from my regular patients, I am getting an additional 12-15 calls every day from people wanting to talk about a range of issues — be it domestic conflicts or irritability or frustration or anxiety related to Covid-19,” he said. Dr Pritesh Gautam, another psychiatrist working on the mental health helpline, said that apart from anxiety over the outcome of the current situation, some patients have shown extreme symptoms as well.“I have received calls from students living in hostels who feel lonely and even suicidal at times. For them, it is important that they do not consume too much negative news and maintain contact with their family and friends over the phone. In such cases, social media can help,” said Dr Gautam.Among young professionals, there seems to be an increasing worry about their careers. Many have lost their internships and jobs soon after the lockdown started began and have been on a job hunt ever since.Devanshi Khetarpal, a student at New York University in US, said, “I never thought I’d be given 24 hours to pack up and leave. That was traumatizing and difficult. I am always anxious. It is not a nice feeling." Even remote working options are having an impact on the mental health of individuals. “Offices need employee assistance plans. We are not mentally prepared to work remotely. Stress, anxiety and isolation are common feelings we have been experiencing. There are some people who have got themselves into the habit of following a certain routine. They now find themselves stranded,” said Maitri Jain, a content writer.Keeping a routine is an issue. Experts suggest picking up new hobbies, doing fun activities, cooking or even a walk can go a long way in helping people deal with these issues. “If one takes up such activities it offers an outlet to temporarily divert the mind from what’s happening around you. Keeping oneself engaged is very important,” said Dr Vaibhav Dubey.Another issue experts have noted among people living away from their families is a constant worry about the health of their loved ones.“Many students and youngsters have parents or grandparents living far away from them. In such a time, they are extremely worried about their health and well-being,” said psychiatrist Dr Pranav Vaidya.