Coronavirus anxiety is real. With restrictions tied to the coronavirus outbreak leaving millions confined to their homes, even those who call themselves introverts are feeling the effects of quarantine on the body and mind.
Does someone feeling edgy, constantly or obsessively checking news updates, losing sleep, or waking in the early hours of the morning feeling anxious indicate they are experiencing or developing mental health issues? "No.
These are completely normal, human reactions to a completely abnormal situation," says Masaki Nishida, a psychiatrist and associate professor at Waseda University.
"If you feel lonely, talk to friends and family on the phone or any tech-enabled form of communication.
It's good to limit how much information you consume about the coronavirus outbreak and not respond impulsively to social media feeds," he says.
Although Nishida understands the government is trying to deal with a public health crisis, he is not impressed with its messaging so far and thinks the way it has chosen to communicate about the crisis has done more harm than good to the mental health of the Japanese population. For example, the government has implemented measures like school closures and has promised to distribute two free face masks per family, but to him, it appears the lack of information and reassurance has exacerbated the situation in an already anxious nation.
The media, filled with self-proclaimed coronavirus experts giving their own advice, is just as guilty, Nishida says. He thinks the government and media should keep people safe and informed during these scary times by providing access to accurate information from the World Health Organization's COVID-19 mental health resources.
Japan's emergency declaration will allow governors to call on people to stay at home and businesses to close, and more people will experience lack of human connection as social distancing becomes the new norm.
For those who are lucky enough to have unlimited access to the internet and lots of free time, watching movies, taking online courses and playing video games are ways to stay distracted and entertained. Even older people who are vulnerable to loneliness as well as the disease are enjoying the benefits of technology like video chat, virtual karaoke, and livestreaming church services.
There are enough virtual escapes and strategies that help us feel less alone, but some time in solitude is not in itself a bad thing for some.
"Being alone isn't the same thing as being lonely," says yoga influencer Mae Yoshikawa, who has been teaching her social media followers how to practice self-care in the midst of a global health crisis.
Yoshikawa says this is a chance to "evolve into the next version of yourself" by allowing external sources of happiness — material objects, people, relationships — to take less of a prominent place in life, now and in the future.
"What makes me happy? What makes me feel whole?
Try to answer those questions in a way that doesn't require external conditions. It might be showering or reading or cooking, it can be anything," she says.
SOURCE: Kyodo
