Remember that staying positive will help you cope and improve your immunity to fight this pandemic.

During difficult times, such as the one we are currently experiencing with the COVID-19 pandemic, people tend to react differently. Some became extremely

unwell and experience symptoms of psychological distress such as depression, anxiety, lack of sleep and changes in eating habits. Others become obsessed with following the news on social media ending up feeling more distressed, while still others live in denial, believing that they are unlikely to catch the illness and ignore all health advice which eventually puts them at risk of falling sick.

The above coping strategies may have long term impact on our physical and mental wellbeing, especially when we are under home quarantine and maintaining social distancing, so it’s important to keep positive at such times. Here are some tips on how to stay positive in these circumstances:

1 – Try to keep a routine, going to bed and waking up at the same time every day even if you are not leaving your home. This ensures stability of your biological clock and prevents you from developing sleep disturbances.

2 – Make sure that you eat balanced and healthy food; avoid comforting meals such as those full of carbohydrates as it’s likely to increase your body weight.

3 – Get some fresh air, take a walk while maintaining social distancing and following health safety advice.

4 – Keep in touch with friends and family; use face time and phone calls – express your feelings to those close to you and offer them emotional support when they need it.

5 – Learn new skills – the Internet is full of online courses that will help you gain knowledge on different topics.

6 – Cultivate a hobby. Read, write or draw – it’s your chance now to do what you always wanted to do but never had the time.

7 – Reduce the time you spend on social media following the latest news about the pandemic. There is a lot of fake news there that will only make you more worried and occupy your thoughts unnecessarily.

8 – Practice meditation or mindfulness, or any form of relaxation that you feel comfortable doing. You can access relaxation music or nature sounds from the Internet – try them out as they are likely to reduce stress and help you stay calm.

9 – If you are looking after a child or an elderly parent, remain calm for them and explain the situation to them in a simple manner. Reassure them and keep them entertained. Keep them away from the constant news feeds that may increase their worries.

10 – Practice your faith as it has a powerful impact in helping you stay strong.

Remember that staying positive will help you cope and improve your immunity to fight this pandemic.

Dr Hamed al Sinawi

Psychiatrist

Department of Behavioural Medicine, SQU