Here's A Guide To Deal With An Unwanted Guest: Omicron

Earlier this year, when the second wave of the Corona virus began to recede, and the vaccine drives grew fiercer, we grew more confident of our hopes of returning to a relatively normal world.

A world where sanitizing our hands and everything we laid them on was not second nature to us, a world where an unsettling concern about our loved ones¡¯ health did not loom upon our hearts perpetually, and a world perhaps, where information did not trigger anticipation.
But before we could see those hopes solidifying into facts, news about the Omicron variant has come knocking on our doors, and in addition to the disappointment of things not going as expected, many of us may be experiencing the advent of that familiar anxious feeling we were ready to lose.

¡°When these variants come up, with Delta and now even more so with Omicron, it¡¯s sort of this re-experiencing of the whole 20 months of this,¡±
-Dr. Ashley Matskevich, psychiatrist and faculty at Harvard Medical School.

Reuters

But then again, anxiety is the fear of the unknown, and speaking from the psychological perspective, we can¡¯t help but see the silver lining: we¡¯ve been here before. We know better.

As per the experts, vaccination is the key measure to adopt at this stage. Even if the existing vaccines are expected to be less effective against the Omicron variant, they are likely to provide significant protection.

As for protecting your mental health, these little things may be of great help:

Be Mindful of the Information You Consume

The tone of information disseminated on news channels and social media may be alarmist. If that has been a trigger in the past, actively consume measured updates from credible sources. Rumour and misinformation can lead to thought-spirals. Rely on experts such as the World Health Organization website who.int., or medical panels and press addresses.

Focus on What¡¯s in Your Control

Hold on to the protective habits you have spent the past two years cultivating, such as wearing a mask, washing your hands with soap for twenty seconds, not touching your eyes, nose or mouth, sanitising not just your hands but frequently-touched objects such as doorknobs, fridge handles, and so on. Trust the process, it¡¯s gotten you here!

Recognise When You¡¯re Spiralling

AP

A frequent spiral we often get caught in is catastrophising. It is when we assume the worst possible scenario for any negative stimulus. For instance, if we don¡¯t do well on a test and assume that we are destined to be failures for life, or if a heated argument with a loved one leads us to thinking that we are bound to lose them, a psychologist would probable say that we are catastrophising, according to Dousti and colleagues.

When you notice yourself indulging in similar thought patterns around the Omicron variant too, turn to thought-challenging: a simple tool that requires you to pause and ask yourself if your worrying thoughts are backed by any real evidence. Or further, asking yourself to tilt to the other end of the spectrum by ruminating over the best-case scenario instead.

Keep Your Social Circle Close

It¡¯s more important than ever to connect with people at this time. Reach out to your family, friends, colleagues etc. And share your concerns, express yourself and listen and empathise just as patiently as you¡¯d want them to do for you. Social support can act as a buffer against stress, say Li and colleagues. The impact of shared experiences on your mental health and resilience mechanisms is long-lasting and influences not just your emotional but physical well-being too!

Carve Out Time for an Activity You Love

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Start with making a list of things you enjoy the most and take your picks! Your chosen activity could be active in nature, that is, one where you create something, or move your muscles, as is done in writing, dancing, or photography; or passive, wherein you consume something already created as in reading a book, watching a film, or listening to music. The ideal solution would be a combination of the two, be sure to mix it up and remember that the ultimate goal is to have fun and get those happy hormones running!

If the above tools aren¡¯t quite working for you, remember that there is one boon that¡¯s come out of the pandemic: more mental health practitioners now offer their services virtually. Remember you¡¯re not alone, recognise your needs and reach out!

Dr. Sanjeev P Sahni is a renowned psychologist and an author on psychological issues. He currently heads Jindal Institute of Behavioural Sciences (JIBS)

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