Dr Anmol Agrawal, BHMS
Management of Stress Amidst Covid-19
ABSTRACT- Covid-19 have taken hold of the whole world and dealing with such pandemic can be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a new disease and what could happen can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Public health actions, such as social distancing, can make people feel isolated and lonely and can increase stress and anxiety.
Homoeopathic medication is very efficient in treating mental issues like anxiety and depression.
Key Words- Covid-19, Anxiety, Depression, Homeopathic medication
INTRODUCTION
Stress is a feeling of emotional strain and pressure.It is a type of psychological pain. Chronic stress and a lack of coping resources available can often lead to the development of psychological issues such as depression and anxiety.
Anxiety Disorder 5
A mental health disorder characterized by feelings of worry, anxiety or fear that are strong enough to interfere with one’s daily activities.
Examples of anxiety disorders include panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Causes-
●Drug abuse
●Underlying medical condition
●Stress
●Persistent anxiety
●Genetic
Clinical features –
Mental symptoms
Physical symptoms
∙Fearful anticipation ∙Dryness of mouth
∙Irritability ∙Constriction in chest
∙Sensitivity to noise ∙Frequent or loose motions
∙Restlesness ∙Palpitations
∙Poor Concentration ∙Discomfort in chest
∙Worrying thoughts ∙Sleep Disturbances
Depression5
A mental health disorder characterised by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life.
The persistent feeling of sadness or loss of interest that characterises major depression can lead to a range of behavioural and physical symptoms. These may include changes in sleep, appetite, energy level, concentration, daily behaviour or self-esteem. Depression can also be associated with thoughts of suicide.
Manifestation of stress during pandemic4
Stress during an infectious disease outbreak can sometimes cause the following :-
◊ Fear and worry about one’s own health and the health of loved ones, financial situation or job, or loss of support services.
◊ Changes in sleep or eating patterns.
◊ Difficulty sleeping or concentrating.
◊ Mixed emotions, including relief.
◊ Stress from the experience of having COVID-19 and monitoring oneself, or being monitored by others.
◊ Sadness, anger, or frustration because friends or loved ones have fears of getting the disease.
◊ Guilt about not being able to perform normal work or duties.
◊ Worry about getting re-infected or sick again even though one already had COVID-19.
◊ Loss of enthusiasm towards life.
Measures to cope up with stress1
♦ Eat healthy foods, and drink water.
♦ Avoid excessive amounts of caffeine and alcohol.
♦ Do not use tobacco or illegal drugs.
♦ Get enough sleep and rest.
♦ Get physical exercise.
♦ Relax your body often by doing things like taking deep breaths, stretching, meditating, wash your face and hands, or engage in pleasurable hobbies.
♦ Pace yourself between stressful activities,and do a fun thing after a hard task.
♦ Use time off to relax, eat a good meal, read, listen to music, take a bath, or talk to family.
♦ Talk about your feelings to loved ones and friends often.
Homoeopathic management3,6,7
ACONITUM NAPELLUS – Feeling of Aconitum is of a sudden, intense threat from outside that comes suddenly and goes suddenly. For that moment the person, who is otherwise calm becomes intensely restless, panicky and nervous. Mentally this is expressed as a fear of death, anxiety and restlessness etc., while in the physical sphere, we find a racing pulse, palpitation and flushing of face alternating with paleness, etc.
ARGENTUM NITRICUM- Fearful and nervous; impulse to jump out of window. Faintish and tremulous. Melancholic; apprehensive of serious disease. There is great anticipation and hurry. He feels he lacks time.
ARSENIC ALBUM- Feeling of vulnerability and defenslesness especially concerning disease and health.Needs reassurance and support. Great insecurity and restlessness. Changes place continually. Fears, of death, of being left alone.
AURUM METALLICUM- Great depression and loathing of life. Patient feels worthless, incapable. Anxiety of conscience.Delusion neglected his duty, has done wrong. Their thoughts turn constantly to suicide. They are usually relieved tremendously by music.
BELLADONA- The main feeling of a Belladonna person is of a sudden threat from outside from which he has to escape in order to survive. Irritability with sudden fits of anger. There is a certain degree of violence in his sensations and actions.Sensitiveness to light noise and jar.
BRYONIA- There is fear of poverty, straving and anxiety about future. Aversion to being disturbed. Wants to be left alone. Thinks and talks about business.
CALCAREA CARBONICA- Need for stability and security. Fear of infectious diseases, of tuberculosis, of heart disease, of cancer etc.
CICUTA VIROSA- Childish behaviour.Aversion to presence of strangers, avoids the sight of people. Excesivelly affected by sad stories. Horrible things affects the patient profoundly.
CAUSTICUM- They are very sympathetic and there is great anxiety for others. The main feeling in Causticum is that the person is the one who has to take care of the group or family.
PHOSPHORICUM ACIDUM- Ailments from grief. Suffers in silence. Sleepiness, brooding, aversion to business, indifference, hopelessness and despair.Correspondingly in the body there is weakness, lack of energy and disposition to lie down.
KALIUM PHOSPHORICUM- Prostration. Weak and tired. Especially adapted to the young. Marked disturbance of the sympathetic nervous system.Slightest labour seems heavy task.Great despondency about business.
Some lesser known remedies2
ALFA ALFA- Neurasthania. Nervousness with insomnia.It induces mental exhilaration with a general feeling of well being.
INDIGO TINCTORA- Excited mood and desire to be busy. Neurasthenia and hysteria. There is great melanchololy which patient tries to hide. It acts on nervous system and takes care of depression.
VERBENA OFFICINALIS- There is nervous depression, weakness and irritation. It brighten up the patient’s mental power.
ZINCUM PICRICUM- Neurasthania, Debility and heavy tired feeling. Loss of memory and energy.
PASSIFLORA INCARNATA- Has a quieting effect on the nervous system. Insomnia, produces normal sleep, no disturbance of cerebral functions.
Reference
1. Arianna Galligher, L. (2020). How to cope with COVID-19 stress. https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/blog/how-to-cope-with-coronavirus-stress
2. Banerjea, S. (2010). Classical Homoeopathy for an Impatient World (1st ed.). Delhi: B. Jain Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
3. Boericke, W. (2003). New manual of homoeopathic materia medica and repertory. New Delhi: Kuldeep Jain for B. Jain Publishers.
4. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html
5. Harrison, P., Cowen, P., Burns, T., & Fazel, M. (2018). Shorter Oxford textbook of psychiatry (7th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.
6. Sankaran, R. (2006). The Soul of Remedies. Homeopathic Educational Services.
7. Vithoulkas, G. (2008). Essence of materia medica. B Jain Publishers Pvt Ltd.
