Affirmation ‘vital in fight against Covid-19’
Mental health is also important: Shruti Jajoo
By Sakshi Bagri
Guwahati: It is important to have a positive affirmation duringCovid times. If one is mentally fit, they can overcome any difficulty, says a Mumbai based counsellor in a conversation about mental health especially during Covid times.
The stigma surroundingmental illness keeps people from getting the help they need to get better and causes them to hide their pain. According to the so-called society, seeking help for depression , anxiety or other problems makes a person crazy or abnormal. At a time when we are asked to wear masks and take precautions, are we taking care of our mental health?
In an interview, Shruti Jajoo Jhanwar, M.A. Psychology, talked about thestress this pandemic has brought and how mental health is very important.
Anxiety, stress, depression, fear, loneliness and insomnia are some of the problems people are dealing with. The sudden changes combined with new realities have affected the human mind more than we could anticipate.
All age groups have suffered from anxiety or depression equally. Kids are away from their school and friends, which can have long term effects on their mental health. People are working from home, which has led to depression. Elderly people are unable to go out and are experiencing stress because of that. This pandemic has affected all.
She stressed that people who test positive for Covid need to stay strong as the stronger their will power, the faster will be the recovery. Also staying positive and having positive affirmation like “I am strong, I can fight Covid,” will help a person to be mentally strong.
“Mental illnesses should not be thought of any differently from physical illnesses. I believe the two are inseparable,” she said. She further explained that “The brain is an organ just like everything else in the body and can be hurt like everything else. When the brain is ill, it is not isolated in just the brain, instead affects the whole body and the overall wellness. Substance abuse, self-harm, and suicide are very common among those with mental illnesses. Mental illness is not something to be ashamed of or thought about differently.”
Psychologist Shruti Jajoo Jhanwar. Photo by: Sakshi Bagri
People may not realise that they are depressed; some signs may include excessive worry or anxiety. Long-lasting sadness or irritability. Extreme changes in moods, social withdrawal, changes in eating or sleeping pattern. Daily exercise, speaking to loved ones, meditation, reading a book, listening to music and healthy eating can help people ease their mind and overcome anxiety and depression, talking being the most effective. When mental illness is treated as something similar to other illnesses, more people will have the courage to get the help they need and better their lives.
(The story first appeared in The Times of Bennett, the lab newspaper produced by the first semester students of TheTimes School of Media .)
Guwahati: It is important to have a positive affirmation during
The stigma surrounding
In an interview, Shruti Jajoo Jhanwar, M.A. Psychology, talked about the
Anxiety, stress, depression, fear, loneliness and insomnia are some of the problems people are dealing with. The sudden changes combined with new realities have affected the human mind more than we could anticipate.
All age groups have suffered from anxiety or depression equally. Kids are away from their school and friends, which can have long term effects on their mental health. People are working from home, which has led to depression. Elderly people are unable to go out and are experiencing stress because of that. This pandemic has affected all.
She stressed that people who test positive for Covid need to stay strong as the stronger their will power, the faster will be the recovery. Also staying positive and having positive affirmation like “I am strong, I can fight Covid,” will help a person to be mentally strong.
“Mental illnesses should not be thought of any differently from physical illnesses. I believe the two are inseparable,” she said. She further explained that “The brain is an organ just like everything else in the body and can be hurt like everything else. When the brain is ill, it is not isolated in just the brain, instead affects the whole body and the overall wellness. Substance abuse, self-harm, and suicide are very common among those with mental illnesses. Mental illness is not something to be ashamed of or thought about differently.”
Psychologist Shruti Jajoo Jhanwar. Photo by: Sakshi Bagri
People may not realise that they are depressed; some signs may include excessive worry or anxiety. Long-lasting sadness or irritability. Extreme changes in moods, social withdrawal, changes in eating or sleeping pattern. Daily exercise, speaking to loved ones, meditation, reading a book, listening to music and healthy eating can help people ease their mind and overcome anxiety and depression, talking being the most effective. When mental illness is treated as something similar to other illnesses, more people will have the courage to get the help they need and better their lives.
(The story first appeared in The Times of Bennett, the lab newspaper produced by the first semester students of The
Recent Messages ()
Please rate before posting your Review
SIGN IN WITH
Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by marking them offensive. Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.