Make this lockdown productive.
KARACHI: During these testing times, many have witnessed a sudden rise in psychological frustration and exhaustion among the people. When people are quarantined inside their homes, their fears and anxieties tend to increase because of this sudden change. Furthermore, the constant bombardment of news on television, information on social media and videos through WhatsApp regarding the coronavirus has overwhelmed our psyche, due to which we start acting paranoid. This in turn causes psychological stress, hypertension and depression. It has also been reported that there is a prevalence of intense fear among people to a point that it becomes unbearable. The reason behind this is merely the repetitive acquaintance of negative stimulus which creates stress and fear within the psyche. This prolonged stress leads to long lasting anxiety and depression. Furthermore, people are not involved in any productive activity and are continuously stuck to their phones or laptops. This is yet another factor.
In order to minimise stress, one must distract themselves from negative stimulus. It is important to stay away from Covid-19 related news during times of panic and engage in healthy physical activities. It is important to spend time with family so that everyone can engage in healthy conversations which could help with distraction. Moreover, find a hobby for yourself while exploring and learning new skills. Make this lockdown productive.
Faheela Riaz
Published in The Express Tribune, April 15th, 2020.
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