The Covid-19 pandemic has undoubtedly deeply affected the mental health of individuals as well as their biological health. Noting that the pandemic has caused serious negative mood changes in individuals, experts emphasize that uncertainty is the most underlying cause of fear and anxiety.
Stating that the pandemic process is a risk factor for all kinds of addiction, experts point out that especially behaviors that will cause addiction should be avoided. According to experts, all kinds of anxiety-relieving, sedative drugs and substances should be avoided. Non-purposeful activities and time on social media should be limited. Experts recommend sleeping well, eating regularly and increasing physical activity. It is also important to share feelings and thoughts with friends and relatives.
With the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health, October 10 has been commemorated as "World Mental Health Day" every year since 1992. On this special day, raising public awareness about mental health and promoting preventive work and treatment services against mental disorders come to the fore. This year's theme was determined as "pandemic and mental health".
Üsküdar University NPISTANBUL Hospital Psychiatry Specialist Prof. Dr. Sermin Kesebir shared important information and useful advice about the mood changes caused by the pandemic outbreak.
Uncertainty is at the root of fears
Stating that the pandemic outbreak is a biological, psychological, sociological, economic and political phenomenon, Prof. Dr. Sermin Kesebir said, "All kinds of mood changes are just one of the phenomena specific to the pandemic. The mood changes caused by the pandemic are primarily experienced as subjective distress and restlessness. Uncertainty is at the root of fear, restlessness and crankiness. Uncertainty harbors an insecurity that is the opposite of a basic sense of security. This subjective feeling of distress and restlessness is also a sudden stress response. It can be accompanied by negative, regressive, repetitive and persistent thoughts. When this happens, it can make it difficult to fall asleep, interrupt sleep and make it difficult to fall asleep again, or wake up early in the morning and not be able to sleep again."
Pandemic depression has many sources
Prof. Dr. Sermin Kesebir said, "Depressive mood, loss of interest and desire were observed most intensely in individuals who were ill and experienced loss" and continued her words as follows: "Of course, when we say loss, we are not only talking about illness and death. There were various other losses, but not comparable to these. It was observed that individuals had economic difficulties and could not earn their earnings. Individuals who did not have suitable housing under the restriction measures experienced this as a crisis. People with limited ability to adapt to change felt these restrictive measures as a grief reaction. At the root of depression is the loss of love, loss of objects of pleasure and fulfillment, vulnerability and roughness in interpersonal relationships, as well as hurt and damage to all the strong emotions of the individual."
Despair increased the severity of depression
Prof. Dr. Sermin Kesebir pointed out that a microorganism, so small that it makes us question our ontological existence and with which we have been living together for billions of years on earth, has become life-threatening and said, "The most powerful people, doctors, statesmen and states were helpless in the face of this situation. This feeling of helplessness is both a basic component of depression and a condition that increases its severity. Another emotion is guilt. Feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness, which arose in the contamination or inability to protect it, perhaps primarily against nature, were observed in this process in a framework ranging from not being able to meet material and spiritual needs to not being able to cope with stress sufficiently. At this point, the individual's self-confidence and self-esteem were affected. When feelings of helplessness, guilt, inadequacy and worthlessness were in question, suicidal thoughts and desires came to the fore."
Infected individuals experience depression
Stating that the virus enters the central nervous system through the olfactory nerve, Kesebir continued his words as follows: "After this point, we know that it stimulates cellular and humoral immune responses, although it is not completely clear which depression pathways it follows in the brain and what changes it makes. At the point where it stimulates the immune response, an inflation occurs and we see depressive symptoms in return for this inflation. The prominent symptoms of Covid-19-induced depression can be described as a subjective feeling of distress and restlessness, loss of interest in daily life and activities, loss of attention, reluctance and disrupted sleep. A frequently emphasized symptom is a kind of sensitivity in interpersonal relationships and a subjective sense of failure, frustration and vulnerability in situations where the person is hindered. Again, a state of depression caused by isolation and stigmatization emerges in infected individuals."
Attention to screen addiction
Stating that the euphoric periods caused by the virus are included in scientific publications, Prof. Dr. Sermin Kesebir said, "It was stated that it is more common in individuals with existing mood disorders. What to do to cope with mood changes? All kinds of anxiety-relieving, sedative drugs and substances should be avoided. The pandemic process is a risk factor for all kinds of addictions. Including screen addiction. At this point, non-purposeful activities and time on social media and the internet should be limited. Following or frequently watching pandemic news may increase perceived stress. Functions that may be stress factors should be minimized in this process. Within the scope of restrictions, social distance should be understood as physical distance. All kinds of emotions and thoughts should be shared with friends and relatives to increase solidarity and social support. New interests that have not had time to be pursued until then can be taken up. Such actions will also make it easier to cope with persistent and recurring negative thoughts."
4 indispensable rules on the road to health
Prof. Dr. Sermin Kesebir listed the 4 principles that cannot be given up as important components of being healthy as follows;
- A regular and phase-appropriate sleep pattern,
- Regular nutrition and fluid consumption,
- Regular physical exercise at home or, better yet, outdoors,
- Making the most of daylight.
Prof. Dr. Sermin Kesebir warned that "Every individual should have an emergency action plan while maintaining these fighting attitudes and behaviors" and concluded her words as follows:
"There should be a place to turn to and people to inform when the virus is encountered. Professional support should be sought in the face of depressed mood or any mood change that will affect daily life, loss of interest and desire for daily activities."
