mindIT

As the nation was recovering from the implications caused by the 2nd wave of COVID-19, people thought that this could bring an end to the uncertainty and anxiety. However, with the explosion of the news of the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron, people have fallen into the grips of anxiety and fear of the future once again.Companies have begun to put a spanner in their return-to-office mode, holiday plans are being stalled, and mass gatherings are being reconsidered yet again.

According to a recent survey conducted by YourDOST, around 65 per cent of the respondents all over the country reported that they are stressed to a point that it was affecting their sleep and productivity. The three emotions experienced by the people according to the report include:

Anxiety: Fear of uncertainty definitely fuels anxiety, because people tend to lose control of their thoughts imagining the worst case scenarios.

Anger: Anger signals that we have been threatened and deprived of our expectations due to loss of control in situations.

Loneliness: Socialising has become a distant dream due to which people feel more lonely than ever, triggering more stress and depression.

Among the countless negatives, a silver lining from the pandemic has been to the awareness and importance Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing has received from people.

A survey conducted by The LiveLoveLaugh Foundation reported that around 92 percent of the respondents said that they would seek treatment and also support a person seeking treatment for mental illness. More and more people are open to having conversations around loneliness, insomnia, reduced productivity, fear and anxiety than ever before.

With the news of the rapid transmission of the new Omicron variant, fear of uncertainty and anxiety begin to well up the minds of the people. The unpredictability with the never ending variants further increases their susceptibility to mental health issues yet again. Here are some of the ways to deal with the uncertainty:

• Focus on what can be controlled: While it may feel easier to resort to thinking about the worst case scenarios, try to set limits of being in that space and focus on the present moment. This makes us feel a lot in control, thereby reducing the free-floating anxiety.
• Work on your time management skills: If you feel extremely overwhelmed, and the anxious thoughts affect your productivity, take a step back and plan for small yet smart goals. Prioritise your tasks and set deadlines so that you feel in control of things.
• Build a support system: Loneliness can worsen the pandemic stress because it becomes difficult to vent out feelings. Talk to your loved ones, family and/or friends- whoever makes you feel heard and validates your feelings. Avoid long conversations about the new variant and try picking up topics that interest you and your loved ones.
• Seek professional help:Mental Health Professionals are qualified and trained to help people with stress and anxiety. If you feel like, reach out to a counselor to understand and solve your issues better.

The writer is Richa Singh, CEO-co-founder, yourDOST