Sunday, 30 May 2021 | PNS | Kotdwar
Experts suggest holistic healing, positivity, healthful diet & professional help if needed
Covid-19 has triggered mental health issues among many especially those who are suffering from the disease or recovering from it. The psychologists are receiving a number of calls from people seeking help for their mental health issues.
Neuropsychologist and counsellor Dr Sona Kaushal Gupta says that she is overwhelmed by the number of stressed callers seeking counselling for mental health through her crisis telephone helpline. Fear and anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder are at the top of the list of issues afflicting the people.
She said, “The people who are going through this situation are scared, have fear of death and have thoughts like what will happen to people who are left behind after them. Then there are caretakers who are scared for themselves and for their dear ones who are sick and they are also not getting any support from other people due to fear and stigma attached to Covid. All this results in a very poor state of mental health. Some recovered patients are having nightmares of what they have gone through so it’s a sort of a post traumatic stress disorder which is very traumatic. They fear they might get back into that situation.”
Suggesting solutions to cope with this situation, she said, “Teach them breathing exercises. Be with them, listen to them and tell them positive stories of people who have been through this and came out of it successfully.”
She also referred to her listening platform ‘Team Pari for You’ which is a group of more than 50 good Samaritans from all over the country who have given their time to listen to people and their problems during this crisis.
Psychoanalyst Aditi Arora said, “Those who have been cured of Covid while under home isolation are feeling pretty fine but the ones who were hospitalised showed symptoms of fear of getting reinfected. In some cases the delay in getting their sense of smell or taste buds back is another thing which is worrying them and those who were severely affected are experiencing severe bouts of trauma even after recovery which can lead to anxiety and paranoia. The ones who are feeling the brain fog are getting worried about when everything will get back to normal,” said Arora.
She suggests that people should not hesitate to take professional help if required. “Be aware and have a proper post-Covid diet. Just know your body because for each person it’s different. If you are feeling well then eat well, rest well and think well. I urge people to know your body and eat good food, recouperate with holistic healing, have a disciplined routine and think positive,” she added.
