Adjusting our mindsets to the new mental health challenge
There has been panic buying and increased anxiety due to the Covid-19 lockdown. Against this background of uncertainty and unknowns, what is certain is that it’s going to take a concerted effort from everyone to do things differently, say two clinical psychologists from North West University
IT WAS understandable that people were experiencing increased anxiety in South Africa and globally, said Rümando Kok and Professor Pieter Kruger, at the Institute of Psychology and Wellbeing in the Centre for Health and Human Performance at NWU in Potchefstroom.
They said anxiety was defined as a feeling of worry, nervousness or unease about something with an uncertain outcome.
Although the threat was real and people have died, the psychological risk was that thinking styles could exacerbate the situation.
They said that in reality, according to the international research community, an estimated 95% of people who contracted the virus would have mild to moderate symptoms. But the psychological effect of the pandemic might, in fact, have a severe impact on the mental health of people worldwide.
The psychologists said anxiety, with regard to contracting the virus and our inability to deal with it was one part of the problem.
“A further problem we are now facing is the consequences of the government’s strategies (rightly so) to contain the virus,” they said.
This includes having had to first digest the notions and acts of self-isolation, social distancing and being in quarantine and now being in lockdown.
“These unnatural and sudden forced changes in behaviour are creating a new set of mental health challenges,” they said.
Tackling change
How do we deal with the lack of routine, potential boredom, being geographically confined to a limited area and the inability to engage with
certain support groups in a face-to-face situation?
“People cannot participate in team sports like they used to do, go to the gym or freely go out to bars, cinemas and restaurants to get relief from their daily stressors.
“We are also confined in close quarters with immediate family members or housemates. This can put a significant strain on relationships, leading to further mental health challenges.
“Also, although many people will have the ability to work from home, telecommunication will bring frustration and challenges of its own.
“This includes miscommunication, issues with connectivity and the health challenges relating to sitting in front of a computer all day long.”
Against this backdrop, they said it was, therefore, important to find ways of adjusting our mindsets to the new reality – at least for the time being.
“We need to be able to distinguish between controllable and
uncontrollable factors. Individually, we have no control over the protocols and directives issued by the government and we are expected to adhere to them. We cannot control the virus, nor the impact it will have on a lot of people.
“What we can control, however, is how we react to the current situation. We can be victims, or we can make the best of the situation.”
They said focusing on the factors that could be controlled, such as behaviour and thought processes, would give people a potential new routine and a clear focus, and stop them from constantly thinking about worst-case-scenarios. This would lower the levels of uncertainty and, therefore, their anxiety.
“Even though the consequences of Covid-19 are far-reaching and already tangible, this does not mean we are hopeless and powerless,” they said. personnel, who are exempted from the lockdown and have to make their way to the office, strict precautionary measures need to be applied to keep the working environment safe for everyone involved.
For those who apply the principles of social distancing and working from home, it is important to maintain meaningful interpersonal connections and to ensure that day-to-day life is characterised by purposeful and meaningful activities. If we look at this in an innovative way, it creates time for meaningful family interaction and connection (something that is scarce in modern times). Examples include sitting around a table and having a meal together, playing board games, laughing and having fun together or playing sport in the yard.
“In order for us to address the issue of Covid-19, it is inevitable that we need to put in a concerted effort to do things differently, not only on an individual level but also on a systematic level.
“It is necessary that, as a community, we unite and reach consensus in our approach in order to function from a similar point of view.
“This is not a time to panic or to create unnecessary fear, but we must also not be ignorant of or deny this global threat. It is a time when we need to stand together, be cautious and look after ourselves and others.”
Practical suggestions to deal with the anxiety include:
Have a plan: Mentally worrying about contracting the virus is like sitting in a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it takes you nowhere. Be more proactive: follow clear health behaviours, wash your hands, avoid crowded places and follow the government’s lockdown instructions. But do not sit in the proverbial rocking chair all day long. Have a plan for approaching the situation. Focus on what matters: Take up a few passions and hobbies that you seldom have time for (within reason), build relationships, read more, get enough rest and so on. There are many important things we can do. Focus on the things that matter most to you in life.
Keep your perspective: Although the threat is real, do not underestimate the human body’s ability to fight off a virus, especially if you are healthy with no underlying health problems. It is probable that 95% of all people contracting the virus will have only mild to moderate symptoms and will recover in a short space of time. The situation is bound to change at some point. We have to stay strong through the early months, as humans will start building natural immunity (known as herd immunity) over time. In the meantime, be sensible, but do not stop living. Focus on the things over which you have control.