IS THE PANDEMIC AFFECTING YOUR MIND? TIME FOR A ‘MENTAL VACCINE’

With the second wave of Covid-19 bringing a pall of pain and suffering, staying sane has become as important as staying safe. But fear and negative talk is turning out to be the biggest hurdle to one’s mental well-being. What one needs now is a ‘vaccine’ of love, belief and hope, feel many celebs.

“I’ve devised strategies such as diving deeper into my music, doing yoga and meditating. During a phase when I thought I was going to break down, these worked out well for me,” rapper Raftaar tells us.

It’s also important to stay connected and lean on to the support system. “This is the best time to start these conversations and seek help when required. We need to remember that it’s okay to not be okay, but it is not ‘okay’ to not seek assistance,” emphasises actor Neil Nitin Mukesh, who himself has struggled with the virus. Agrees actor Suniel Shetty, who asserts that “mental nutrition” has become as important as nutrition through food.

And actor Shruti Haasan believes one should acknowledge their trigger points. “It’s not just the news or social media, but also people you talk to that can make you super anxious,” she says, adding, “The one thing I practice, and it has been very helpful for me, is having gratitude about everything.”

Actor Mrinal Dutt, too, is meditating his way to calmness. “Today, it’s very easy to get carried away and go down the rabbit hole where you only panic. You must stay far away from fear,” he shares.

Many celebs point out various factors which can affect mental health. All the words left unsaid, feelings unexpressed, plans unfulfilled, meetings undone and final goodbyes — these often leave scars, which might not be visible, but are wreaking havoc with the mental well-being of millions.

And the road to healing starts with self-love and self belief, according to Anand Chulani, mental and emotional expert. “We should make sure we immunise ourselves against the mental virus of fear. And the mental vaccine is available in all of us. It’s courage, determination, faith, care and compassion. We need to make sure we’re continuously mentally vaccinated,” he advises.

SUNIEL SHETTY, ACTOR Jaise aapko breakfast, lunch, snacks aur dinner chahiye, usi tarah mental nutrition bhi chahiye. It’s important to talk to people, counsel and reassure them. Scan the code to read more on how Hina Khan is dealing with her father’s death and Covid

RAFTAAR, RAPPER It’s not easy [to stay calm], but please don’t fear the virus. In such times, it’s of utmost importance to have faith and trust in the power of the universe.

Scan the code to read more on how celebs deal with the stress caused by the pandemic