As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to spread and show its implications in our community, it is normal for people to experience a wide range of thoughts, feelings, and display reactions.
Especially those who get admitted in the hospital have a very high tendency to displaying such behaviour.
Given below are the common experiences of people, in the current situation:
These feelings are all understandable in the face of this significant challenge. Looking after our wellbeing in times like this can help us reduce stress, and is crucial to take calm and effective action in the midst of this global crisis.
Things you can do to cope with stress, anxiety or distress
When most things feel uncertain or out of our control, one of the most effective ways to manage stress and anxiety is by focusing on the actions that are in our control.
Here are some ways to look after your physical and emotional wellbeing during this challenging period:
Keep things in perspective: In a situation that’s uncertain, it’s natural to have many ‘what if?’ questions in our minds. In the absence of proper information or having incomplete information, our anxious mind starts thinking about worst-case scenarios, which can leave us feeling overwhelmed, helpless, or vulnerable.
Here are some questions you can ask yourself to shift your thinking from an awful mind frame to a more helpful mindset:
Maintain your day-to-day activities. Practice self-care as much as possible:
During these unprecedented times, it's natural for our minds to think of all the usual activities we may not be able to do at the moment. Make a conscious shift to focus on the activities we are still able to do or those that we may have more opportunity to do if we're hospitalized.
Some activities that you could do include:
Practice self-care:
Look after yourself to encourage the positive frame of mind.
Everybody practices self-care differently. Here are some common examples:
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Maintaining a healthy lifestyle by eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, getting quality sleep, and avoiding the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs to cope with stress
Remember that physical distancing doesn’t mean not connecting socially:
You can make use of technology to stay connected, and both give and receive support, remotely. You could:
When we are stressed, naturally things appear worse than they really are. Instead of thinking about the worst-case scenario and worrying about it, ask yourself:
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Am I thinking a lot, assuming something bad will happen when I really don’t know the outcome?
2. Am I catastrophizing how bad the consequences will be?
3.Am I underestimating my ability to cope?
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Remind yourself of what you have done to cope with extremely stressful situations in the past. Also, thinking about how you would cope if the worst were to happen, can sometimes help you put things into perspective.
Looking after your mental health, during self-isolation:
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You can manage your anxiety using creativity. Just get back to painting, drawing, writing, crafting, etc.
Reach out for help:
If your situation is really difficult, please don’t hesitate, just reach out to us. At Sakra World Hospital, our team of experts will help you resolve your mental health concerns, swiftly and efficiently.