Mental health and COVID-19

As impossible as it seems, the current situation is equally concerning. With several countries being locked down and billions of people self-isolating, the energy has evidently shifted. There is a restlessness lingering around each one of us. We were busy running our lives at a very fast pace. And suddenly, within days we got thrown out of our usual rhythm to not being able to work, socialise or engage ourselves in activities.

There is a serious sensory imbalance- overloading vision, hearing, and taste (with news, social media, constant complaints, unwanted stress and mindless bingeing), at the same time neglecting the sense of touch and smell. While most of us are adopting a rather creative approach towards this situation, deep down our mind is baffled. We are apprehensive about what tomorrow will bring. Subconsciously, it has been a hard task for us to change the gear of our life overnight. What petrifies most of us is the fear of the unknown.

Anxiety and depression are on the rise, at par with the number of COVID-19 cases. Unfortunately or fortunately, this major lifestyle change has brought us the opportunity of a lifetime- an opportunity to reflect upon our choices. Yes, we are concerned about the wellness of our family and loved ones. And, indeed, COVID-19 is not an ordinary respiratory syndrome. Precautions are a must. Howbeit, stress is an equally damaging 'virus' that is being instilled into us through various channels. Alongside govt regulations and precautions to 'flatten the curve', we also need to work on our mental wellbeing.

In Ayurvedic philosophy, stress and anxiety are classified as Vata disorders. Vata is the wind energy that bears qualities such as ungrounding, unsteady, restless, swift, cold, and rough when out of balance. Activities that help us balance the Vata within ourselves will, in turn, assist in reducing anxiety. Indulge in grounding activities like gardening, yoga, tai chi, mediation, a relaxing bath, self-massage with essential oils, etc. Coincidently, the elements associated with the sense of touch and smell are air and earth. We can reconnect with these elements of our microcosm through Pranayam (breathing exercises) and grounding activities mentioned above. It is an excellent practice to massage warm coconut oil into our hands and feet as it promises a restful sleep. This will rekindle the sense of touch that most of us are missing out on. Thanks to online conference apps, so many yoga and Pranayam teachers have an online LIVE presence. Similarly, there are many workouts designed to be done from your home.

Besides all these activities that bring us warmth and comfort, a good portion of our focus must also remain on fulfilling our body's nutritional demands. Eating fresh food that is not processed, premade, frozen or older than 1 or maximum 2 days will ensure optimum conditioning of our cells and tissues. Warm soups and stews that are easy to make, dal or lentil soups, homemade snacks like pakoras or veggie toast with cheese, spicy stir-fry, use of unrefined ingredients like raw palm sugar or jaggery (cane sugar), Himalayan salt, cold-pressed seed oil or coconut oil, ghee- these are a few things that will help bring the emotional stability that we have been hunting for. Though we are out of work, design a day plan that works for you and follow it. Perhaps start with three or four things on the list. It will foster a sense of accomplishment and help you snap out of chronic boredom leading to depression. At the same time, be mindful not to beat ourselves up for not attaining the daily goals. Be kind and gentle towards each other. It is a good idea, however, to have a set lunch and dinner time.

Food plays an extremely important part of our wellbeing. I think back to Dr. Emoto's experiment. It was nothing more than a miracle to notice the change in molecules of water with a change in emotion. The way our food is prepared, cooked, served and eaten has an everlasting impact on our subconscious layers. For this very reason, the homecooked movement was introduced.

Home-cooked food not only assures sanitation and hygiene but also ensures the quality and love that gets added to the food. Ever heard of the saying 'Love is the secret ingredient'? It might be a cliche but also a fact. When we cook food, our temperament, our environment, and our presence play an important role in refining or denaturing the product. In culinary terms, we call it 'balancing the flavours'. Therefore, the same recipes followed to a T taste different when made by different sets of hands.

Lastly, extend a helping hand towards our fellow isolators with a practical yet optimistic approach. We will eventually overcome this phase of our life. If you have children or family members or even housemates, try to engage in productive activities together. Talk to your neighbours from your bedroom window, reconnect with those long lost friends. This time is for reassessing our lifestyle, our needs, and our deeds. Journaling our experiences during self-isolation is a stellar idea. Just think of the stories we can share with our future children and grandchildren about this time. It is going to bring us some crazy amazing movies, tv-series, and books in the future. And what's more amazing is that you are a part of the movie, the show or the book! So give your best shot with a calm and relaxed mind. Who knows, you could shine as a superhero in some of these stories.

Activities:

• Oil massage

• Baths with essential oils like lavender, sage, birch, citronella, sandalwood, geranium, bergamot, etc

• Gardening

• Play musical instruments

• Get moving- dance, light cardio

• Yoga

• Meditation

• Pranayam

• Tai Chi

• Hot tub

• Deep cleaning and organizing the rooms

Foods:

• Ghee

• Avocados/ Coconut oil

• Nuts

• Dal khichdi

• Vegetarian forward diet

• Soups and stews

• Stir-fries with no processed sauces and condiments

• Fresh, non-frozen food

• Fresh fruits

• Herbs and spices like ginger, rosemary, turmeric, cinnamon, clove, coriander, cumin

• Warm meals

• Fermented foods like dosa, kimchi, kombucha

• Limited to no intake of caffeine and refined sugar (instead use non-refined palm sugar jaggery)

• Avoid leftovers and reheating

• No microwave