Sleep, keep busy, remain hydrated and don’t watch TV news with children

Sahil Ahmad (16) has become a TV addict, glued before the screen and watching news channels reporting on coronavirus. A lively teenager before the lockdown, he is now a sulking and anxious wreck. When his father tried to take out the TV from his room, an agitated Sahil smashed a cup and a tea pot.

“I have two daughters, just 7 and 5 years old. Both have lost interest in everything and have become mobile phone addicts, playing games all the time,” says Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Hazratbal and a teacher.

Class VIII student Mohsin is unable to attend online classes due to low Internet speed, mandated by the Government in the Kashmir Valley. He cries late into the night and has lost both appetite and sleep, says his distraught father, Md. Sharif from Nishat.

Schools in Kashmir reopened on February 24, after a gap of seven months since August 5 last year. A month later, they shut down in the wake of the country-wide lockdown.

While past surveys indicated that as many as 45% of the population in Kashmir suffered from anxiety, depression, paranoia and other psychiatric disorders, the lockdown in the wake of the pandemic has added fear of the unknown. Kashmir, no stranger to lockdowns, is used to take restrictions in its stride. But the pandemic is having unpredictable effects on its people’s psyche.

While parents are trying their best to get children interested in indoor games, board games, painting and similar activities, fear of the future has put the children under added stress.

Don’t watch TV news with children, advise psychiatrists. Children should avoid listening to discussions on what the pandemic might do, about death tolls and the so-far futile fight against the virus, they add.

Child and adolescent mental health counsellor at Child Guidance and Wellbeing Centre, Wasim Rashid Kakroo puts the onus on parents. They should manage their own anxiety and not pass them on to children, he says.

“When TV news reports how many have been killed by the virus, it affects children. We should tell children about precautions to be taken and not add to their panic,” he said.

Dr Mansoor, a psychiatrist, says this lock down is different from previous ones. “There is no sentimental link for Kashmiris in this lockdown,” he explains, but yet the pandemic threatens their survival.

A fresh group of people, mostly young, seem to be having stress-related issues now, he says, “They are fearful, having palpitations; they are worried about the cause of various symptom they have. Sleeplessness is a very common symptom in this group.”

Javid Ahmad Mir, a Post Graduate Psychiatric Nursing research scholar, said, “during any epidemic outbreak, feeling anxious, confused, overwhelmed or helpless is common.” People, he advised, should make limited use of social media and ensure adequate sleep and rest.

He also advised people to remain hydrated and take good amount of fluid (lemon water, ginger water, mint water). “Stay connected to loved ones, keep yourself busy with reading, music, writing and painting,” he added by way of a parting shot.