Coping with COVID -19 related depression
No doubt COVID-19 is devastating the human society both at a personal and at social-economic levels. According to professionals, the mental health / psychological impact of COVID-19 related challenges such as self-quarantine, curfews, infections, partially or fully shut-off businesses, house / home confinements and so on continue to cause the following common stressors: 1) Infection fears, 2) Frustration, 3) Boredom, 4) Inadequate supplies, 5) Lack of information, 6) Jobs and financial losses, 7) Stigma associated with contracting the disease, amongst others.
These stressors and all stressful situations are manifested in the following symptoms :
- Fear and worry of getting infected
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Changes in eating patterns and habits/binge eating
- Poor concentration
- Worsening existing health conditions such as asthma
- Continued alcohol and/or cigarette use
- Flaring tempers
- Fights over petty issues such as a plate breaking
- And others
In order to cope with these stressors and even, most important, to reduce and fight them off, the following advice can be useful;
- Walk around the compound,
Article from Mount Kenya University’s platform on ANTI- COVID19 ATROCITIES LAB for MENTAL HEALTH COMFORT)
