The global pandemic of COVID-19 has to lead to many psycho-social difficulties amid the physical discomfort. People have been taking all the necessary precautions to save themselves from the COVID-19. The most important precaution is self-isolation or lockdown. Lockdown has its positive aspects like spending quality time with family and engaging in activities that otherwise had no time for. Not much importance is given on the negative impact that precautionary measures like lockdown has on the mental health of the people. Loneliness is an aspect that many people are struggling with during this global epidemic. The elderly populations are the ones to be focussed more on this matter. There are also people who are away from their families due to various circumstances and are on self-isolation.
Loneliness causes a negative appraisal of the outbreak situation and suffers from higher distress. (Qualter et al., 2013). People during quarantine define loneliness according to their understanding and experience. Loneliness can be social or emotional. People isolated from their family or friends during the lockdown feel socially isolated. On the other hand, people who despite being with their family feel emotionally isolated or lonely. People who are already suffering from depression, anxiety, or psychiatric disorder make their situation worse.
Existential suffering during lock down
Furthermore, the rapid progression of the disease is leading the question of existential distress. With the uncertainty of the circumstances, people are feeling a sense of abandonment and lack of purpose in their life without their family or friends. The elderly population is found to be mostly suffering from existential distress. Exempted from some activities which defined their way of living, start losing the meaning of the very existence in the world.
Copying with lockdown loneliness and existential distress.
Optimism: Being optimistic towards the situation. The belief in the inner energy and the strength in oneself to fight against any challenges will help them to bring out the new inner self. A new perspective towards the situation will begin.
Mindfulness: Engaging in mindfulness will help the individual to focus on his present experiences. Mindfulness is performed in various methods and techniques. These techniques will help the individual to not judge his thoughts or the situations which he is going through and also will help him to deviate oneself from the uncertain future.
Having a dialog with oneself: The lockdown period might be stressful for those who are staying alone or the elderly who are totally on self isolation as a precautionary measure. But reflecting one’s inner self and trying to conduct a dialogue with oneself will help to disperse a strong self. Amidst the hustle of the world’s busy schedule people hardly had time for one’s inner self. The deceive self which is always busy in fulfilling the needs of the world or society somewhere repressed the real self. So to bring out the inner potential and to actually belief in it and take action for one’s happiness is required in this hour of crisis.
Gratitude: Having gratitude in heart for oneself, for others and the world helps one to be happy in any situation whatever might be the circumstances, be it a serious illness, a great epidemic or be it the end of the world. Gratitude has respect for each and every individuals and the situation. Maintaining a gratitude diary daily and expressing gratitude for everything that one have. Most importantly to be thankful for the life which we are achieved is itself a sign of our vibrant and powerful energy.
Inner transformation: it is very easy to feel sad for the outer circumstances. People during this pandemic who are lonely will easily be depressed. But it is important to realize that it is the inners elf that leads to the consequences. Trying to actually transform one could be a great starting towards a happy life. During this period people can engage themselves in really understanding the philosophy behind live or the principles of human existences, which will clear their doubts for existences. Reading Great books, watching motivational videos and having a dialogue with people of wisdom will enlighten the mind.
Building a rhythm of life: to maintain a daily rhythm is very essential. So that there is a flow of life and there is no scope of unhealthy thoughts and activities. One should maintain an activity schedule and try to give the best in whatever activity they are doing and to enjoy it.
Socializing through technology: Humans are social animals. But social isolation is the immediate requirement of the time. Technology has become a medium that has become life much easier, they have disconnected humans but they also connect them. Technology has been the medium for solving any problem for long. So people should utilize it to the fullest to overcome the challenges. Try to communicate and have a dialogue with as many lives as possible. Take encouragement from other and encouraging others will enlighten one’s strength and realize one’s capabilities. Sometimes encouraging others helps to reflect one’s weaknesses and potentialities.
Healthy routine: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle with regular self-reflection, physical activities, healthy diet, healthy sleep patterns, and most important is maintaining a healthy relationship.
