Mumbai: "Learn to classify your thoughts and stop being anxious about the future," these are Dr. Sagar Mundada's words to Mumbaikars, for maintaining a healthy mind amid the lockdown period.
Mundada is a consulting Psychiatrist of Health spring Mumbai, speaking to the Free Press Journal, he states, while citizens are battling the spread of the coronavirus and are confined to their homes, another battle has been taking place inside their minds.
It's been more than a month that the maximum city is locked indoors. Due to the workaholic nature of people here and fast-paced lifestyle, many Mumbaikars are suffering from mental anxieties and breakdown syndrome as they are forced to sit idle at home.
"Alongside the physical impact, there is a mental health impact of Corona as well. We have classified the patients into four categories based on the complaints that we are receiving from our patients who are contacting us for consultation," said Dr Mundada.
"The first category are the ones who are in an anxiety, these patients tend to live in future, the second category are the one who are staying alone with the city with their friends and family living at a different state, the third category are the ones who are related to substance abuse and the fourth category are the people who are complaining of sleep deprivation and change in their body clock," added Mundada.
He explains, there is a significant number of first category patients because people are living in the future. Most people are concerned whether they will have their jobs or not, whether they will be able to pay their next EMI.
"Most of the people are sitting at home so they are becoming anxious and this is taking a toll on them," states Mundada. The doctor says, ever since the lockdown period started, there has been a 50 per cent increase in patients suffering from withdrawal symptoms.
"During the initial days of the lockdown, many people called us for help as their lives revolved around the consumption of alcohol and smoking" he said. He further explains, cases of the fourth category are more as most of people's sleep cycle has been affected as the biological clock of the people are severely affected due to sudden change in physical activity.
"We are advising people to avoid overconsumption of negative factors. Most of our thoughts are affected by external factors like negative discussions and rumours that are being spread across social media platforms," says the psychiatrist.
"If we can classify our thoughts into things we can control and things we cannot control, half the job is done. We need to understand our thoughts before letting it overpower us," he adds. "Those living alone in the city, need to be in complete touch with their family through video call.
Seeing their faces and engaging in a heartfelt conversation will bring them comfort. Also getting engaged into a little bit of physical exercise will help them balance the sleeping cycle," explained Mundada
