LOCK DOWN SIDE EFFECTS

Coronavirus has caused a lot of disasters in the world. Millions of people have lost their lives due to this life-threatening virus. This deadly pandemic has adversely impacted all nations of the globe. The situation is getting terrible day by day as there is no vaccine invented yet to treat this virus. Ever since the national lockdown was announced in March, there has been much talk around mental health and the impact being confined in your own home could have on psychological wellbeing. Many people have reported increased feelings of anxiety and depression throughout the coronavirus crisis. 

This lockdown has resulted in positive as well as negative effects on various aspects of the life of people.

Loss of studies: One of the major adverse impacts of lockdown is seen on the academics of students who are not able to attend classroom learning sessions. The education board in various nations can’t organize the board exams on scheduled exam dates due to the coronavirus pandemic. This has resulted in the loss of studies of students.

 

Financial loss: As all businesses except utility businesses are closed, the earning capacity of people has substantially reduced. It has become a major concern for people who are dependent on daily earnings to support their families. The Film Industry, Tourism Industry, Aviation Industry, Railways, IT companies, Industries, and many more are also shut down during this pandemic. This has resulted in a drastic reduction in the global economy. To beat the financial crisis, the government has reduced the interest on saving schemes, the return of mutual funds has also reduced, and prices of oil, diesel, and petrol have increased, etc. All these factors have resulted in a monetary loss in people. It has been said that pandemic was clearly having a major social and psychological impact on the whole population, increasing unemployment, separating families, and various other changes in the way that they live that they know were generally major psychological risk factors for anxiety, depression, and self-harm.

 

Loss of Jobs: Due to lockdown, the number of laborers in industries has reduced. Also, as people are not going to shop for electronic goods, furniture, and other home essentials, the demand for these goods has reduced. This has led to a reduction in revenue generation, and that is ultimately translating into salary cuts, and job losses. Lockdown, if extended, is projected to increase unemployment, and poverty in the world.

 

SIDE EFFECTS OF LOCKDOWN

An invisible virus has done us something which biggest of the wars couldn’t do. Did anyone ever in their wildest dream saw us lockdown in our houses and the nation coming to a standstill. Although this lockdown can have a long-lasting effect on our economy, we are going to discuss some of the health issues it can have on us. We will also see how we can overcome such effects.

 Being lockdown in a house for three weeks can be very horrifying for many people. It can amplify their fear and can cause a non-recovery from the sorts. There are many control freaks in our society and in a sense we all are control freaks in some way or the other. Lockdown is actually hitting us on this point. The fear can lead to failure to recover from the mental health disorders caused by the lockdown.

 

Panic Attack

An outbreak of a pandemic which in no time takes the whole world into its grip and the so-called intelligent humans don’t have an answer to it. Our life comes to a standstill with lockdown to prevent Corona and this situation is more than enough to induce a panic attack. Although we know that, down the line, we will be able to control this virus a sudden fear has gripped many of us. It seems that we are losing control over elements on which we thought we had commanded. Such a situation can create a panic attack in many of the individuals who will be inside their houses during the lockdown.

 

Depression

We are a country where people are already facing a lot of mental illness especially depression. This could be owing to many factors like lifestyle, career-oriented life, stress, cut-throat competition, etc. A lockdown can add fuel to the fire. A sudden divorce from your routine, no work, no goals can cause persistently depressed moods. Such an atmosphere can lead to a loss of interest in activities. Depression takes you to a stage of self-rejection where you don’t feel any value for yourself and this situation can lead to suicide. For many people who suffer from mental health illnesses such as depression and anxiety, the fact that we have had more time to get sleep, cook, read and invest in self-care would have been extremely beneficial for well being.

Depression affects how well people can sleep, eat, and function. It can also be massively impacted by external factors, such as too much media exposure. The addition of increased isolation may cause feelings associated with depression to be exacerbated. This leads such as isolation, staying indoors, limitation of outdoor activities and lack of routing are often actions associated with depression and this can be triggering for those who suffer from the mental illness. Events that cause financial insecurity and stress, particularly when coupled with uncertainty, have been shown to lead to an increase in aggression at home.

Anxiety 

Anxiety is a mental health disorder characterized by feelings of worry, anxiety, or fear that are strong enough to interfere with the patient’s daily activities at the same time, there will be many other people who have experienced heightened emotions of depression and anxiety. There is a lot of focus on making a difference in lockdown, especially with an increase in heavy domestic responsibility.

For those with anxiety, this type of pressure can escalate as a direct result of conflict between family members.

Domestic Violence

Violence cases in families have risen since the lockdown came into effect, with the survivors stuck with their abusers in homes. Domestic violence is a mindset coupled with low esteem, inferiority complex arising due to lack of education, employment, and social stature. Both Men and Women tend to pick on easy victims to pour out their frustration. Sometimes domestic abuse need not be only physical – emotional, and psychological abuse causes equal harm. Due to societal pressures, patriarchal norms, and the necessity to hold up a family, women seldom raise voice the domestic violence they render in the closed walls of their own house.

Stress Disorders For some people, lockdown can exacerbate the risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder. 

Being lockdown in a house for three weeks can be very horrifying for many people. It can amplify their fear and can cause a non-recovery from the sorts. There are many control freaks in our society and in a sense we all are control freaks in some way or the other. Lockdown is actually hitting us on this point. The fear can lead to failure to recover from the mental health disorders caused by the lockdown.

 Relationships can take an ugly turn during the lockdown period if not managed well.

 

Increase in body weight

Believe it or not, the lockdown period is going to snatch away a considerable amount of physical activity from our routine. Further, idle life can lead to an increase in the intake of food which is a normal body reaction to such situations. These factors could lead to an increase in our body weight. I am sure we can see many of our friends with increased weight post lockdown. Such an increase in body weight can lead to other diseases like cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes, and even depression. The main reason for the increase in obesity is eating excessive amounts of food, lack of exercise, and walking.

 Medical experts say obese people have a low immune system against the COVID-19, which increases their risk of contracting the coronavirus, not just social distancing but a good diet and regular exercise is also necessary to contain the virus.

 Potato chips, red meat, and sugary drink intakes increased significantly during the lockdown. Time spent on sports activities decreased and sleep time increased. Screen time increased by nearly five hours per day in some instances.

                                 

 Be Positive during Lockdown

 

• Extra hours for sleep

 Just because of hectic and busy life, you can’t get proper sleep. Now, this is your time to get proper sleep and feel energetic. Proper sleep also regenerates skin cells. When we don’t have to commute long distances to get to work or have to get the kids ready for school on time, we can get a little more sleep. Even an extra hour of sleep could mean seven hours instead of six, which makes a big difference to our health. In the evening too, as people don’t have to get home late, it is possible to get to bed a little earlier and get more rest.

 

• Exercise more

 Exercise make you feel better and it helps to reduce stress and anxiety. It also boosts memory and increases immunity to fight against diseases. The extra time on our hands and the worry of gaining weight have prompted many people to start working out at home. From yoga and meditation to energetic Zumba sessions, people all over the world are getting creative with their home workouts. This is also a fun activity because the whole family can join in and stay healthy together. A healthy mind can reside in a healthy body only. We are all aware of the benefits of workouts and yoga. Create a routine for yourself which has workouts on a daily basis. Exercise allows you to stay positive, energetic, and devoid of all illnesses. Over and above, good mental health can also keep you away from disorders from an increase in body weight during the lockdown. Workouts can be fun in this period.

 

 • ME TIME

 Whatever you love to do, you can do all those activities which calm you and give happiness. ME time is very essential for inner happiness. One can perform any activity during this ME time, whether it is cooking, gardening, craft, or anything. • Time for family!!. Housework is one of the most productive ways to keep busy and not get bored. You are personally invested when you are cleaning your own home so you do a much better job. You find things that you haven’t used in a long time and can take the call to throw them out. And you end up with a much cleaner living space.

 Due to social life, you can’t give proper time to your family. Lockdown gives you the opportunity to give your best time to your partner, parents, or children. Spend your time with family and spread happiness and positivity. With parents working from home and kids not having to go to school, this is the best time to bond as a family. As parents get involved in home-schooling, they start to understand what their kids are learning in school, what their difficulties are, and how they can help them. Families also have more time to do fun stuff together like play board games, cook meals, do arts and crafts, and much more. This time together is a great way to relieve stress and improve mental health.eping, mopping, dusting, and cleaning cobwebs are all ways to keep active and burn extra calories.

 • Eat well

 A healthy diet reduces the risk of chronic diseases. Avoid processed food, as they tend to obesity. Healthy and proper food gives nourishment to your body and stabilize your mood. Not only are we stuck at home, but most restaurants and delivery services have stopped. Many of us have also become cautious about eating outside food because we don’t want to catch COVID-19. As a result, more of us are eating home-cooked food. Home cooking usually uses less oil, fresh ingredients, and little to no processed foods, making it a healthier option than eating out.

                                         

Set yourself a goal

We all have certain things in our life which we are not able to do owing to lack of time. So here is the gift we were waiting for. Set yourself a goal that needs to be achieved during the lockdown period. It could be getting back in shape, learning something new, reading a book, or any other thing that you aspired for. Such goals can provide you a routine and keep you engaged. An idle mind is the devil’s workshop and we pledge to keep our mind engaged.

 

Avoid watching NEWS

NEWS during this period will have only one thing – COVID 19 which could be stressful to you. Persistently watching the number of infected and dead increasing can be very painful and can clearly affect your mental health. So we should avoid watching NEWS to a possible extent if required.

 Other than all the above-mentioned benefits, there are so many more. Since the Earth is free from pollution, human beings get pure oxygen and healthy air. So, now it’s our duty to take the pledge of caring for Earth even after lockdown. Because, if Earth is Safe, we human beings are also safe.

Anyhow, let’s break the chain of COVID 19 with a smile. It should not feel victorious. Let's create a memory that we can share with our future generations and tell them how easily we beat one of the most dangerous viruses on the earth.

 

Stay home, stay healthy.