While negative news about the coronavirus is coming from all over the world, we also need to work hard to protect our mental health.
As expected after the epidemic begins, there is a significant increase in anxiety disorders, panic attacks and obsessions. The basis of anxiety disorders is intolerance of uncertainty, the feeling of losing control, the effort to reduce the risk to zero, and the feeling that something bad is very close. It is understandable that these thoughts and feelings increase in today's epidemic conditions.
There is a lot of news, especially about the coronavirus. During this period, one should be careful about the news read and avoid misinformation. In order to follow the developments, it would be more appropriate to set a certain period of time and look at the news within that period.
Recommended things to do during this period to reduce anxiety and protect mental health:
Eating a healthy and balanced diet,
Making time for yourself,
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Trying to do enjoyable activities,
Trying to give yourself positive and hopeful suggestions that you can overcome this situation.
Connecting with your family and friends.
To get information about how you can get help.
Trying to talk to people and express your feelings.
During this period, if you or your loved ones experience intense fear and anxiety, sleep problems, eating problems, increased alcohol use, and if stress symptoms begin to interfere with your daily activities for a few days, you may need to consult a healthcare professional.
People with pre-existing mental health problems are recommended to continue their treatment and monitor new symptoms.
How may our mental health be affected after the coronavirus outbreak?
The emotional and behavioral reactions of most patients and healthcare professionals are the psychological adaptation process that occurs as a result of encountering intense stress. Fear about your own health, the health of your loved ones, concern about how much this process will affect your financial situation, whether there will be problems with your access to basic food and cleaning materials in the future. There may be curiosity and anxiety about the
People in coronavirus quarantine may experience feelings of loneliness, anger, intolerance of uncertainty, and intense anxiety and guilt about infecting their loved ones.
Short-term effects may include anxiety, anger, fear of infecting loved ones, and it is necessary to pay attention to the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder in people who have to stay isolated for a long time.
Most healthcare workers work in isolation in hospitals. They may also have problems maintaining their own mental health. It is important that the latest status and updates regarding the epidemic are communicated regularly and accurately to both healthcare professionals, patients and their relatives. It is recommended to increase interpersonal communication by using technology to reduce the effects of isolation.
It is important for patients under treatment and their relatives who are quarantined because they interact with them to communicate with each other by phone and to be informed about their current health status and treatment process in order to improve mental health.
It is observed that high levels of social media exposure and information pollution transmitted through social media, albeit unintentionally, increase stress reactions. It is important to try to regularly update information from reliable sources in order to reduce the stress caused by uncertainty.
HOW TO APPROACH HEALTH ANXIETY?
An empathetic approach, indicating that you understand their concerns, is appropriate in psychological intervention for people experiencing intense health anxiety. In addition, the aim should be to help him feel safe and calm, to try to increase his social support, to develop hopeful thoughts about the future, to reduce his feeling of helplessness, and to help him perform the problem solving process effectively.
WHY CAN'T WE THINK PROPERLY UNDER INTENSIVE STRESS
Of course, it is very important to take precautions as much as possible against such an epidemic and try to protect ourselves and our environment. While doing this, it is necessary to apply the recommendations learned from reliable sources without panic. Because panicking reduces functionality, it makes it difficult for us to take the necessary precautions.
The intense stress caused by the crisis Our minds cannot fully understand messages about health and safety. It tends to miss some nuances. For example: we cannot hear exactly what is said due to too much information input, we cannot remember the information as well as before, we may misinterpret the messages given. It's annoying to have more questions than answers in times of crisis. During this period, there is uncertainty about the extent of the epidemic, ways to protect against the epidemic, and what may happen in the future, and it is not possible to reduce possible risks to zero. Therefore, our aim should be to try to reduce the risks "adequately". Making a clear action plan with information verified from reliable sources and trying to implement them reduces both the stress caused by uncertainty and the feeling of helplessness.
THINGS TO DO WHEN OBTAINING INFORMATION IN DURING A CRISIS
Before taking action, you should also check the information you receive from other sources. Make sure it is verified. For example: change the channels on your television to see if the information you receive is confirmed on other channels, question whether your friends and relatives have also heard the information you heard, get suggestions from reliable and respected people, check whether the same information is available on other accounts on social media.
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