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Methods of Coping with the Corona Virus Outbreak

The corona virus disease outbreak (COVID-19) can be stressful for people and communities. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause intense emotions in adults and children.

Everyone can react differently to stressful situations. The emotional impact of an emergency on a person may depend on the person's characteristics and experiences. Similarly, the person is affected by the social and economic conditions of himself and the community he lives in. The emotional response to emergencies may also depend on local resources available to the person in the immediate vicinity. People Replaying the images and news about the epidemic in the media may also increase the distress felt.

The following groups can react more intensely to stress caused by a Corona Virus crisis:

· Previously having psychological and mental health problems

· Children

COVID-19 support staff, such as doctors, other healthcare providers, and first responders

 

Responses during the infectious disease outbreak may include:

Fear and anxiety about your own health and loved ones that may have been exposed to COVID-19

Changes in sleep or eating patterns

Difficulty sleeping or concentrating

Worsening of chronic health problems

Increased use of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs

 

People with previous mental health and psychological problems should continue their treatment in an emergency and monitor if new symptoms develop.

Dealing with these feelings in case of a disaster and getting help when you need it will help you, your family and your relatives recover. Connect with your family, friends and other people around you. Take care of yourself and each other and learn when and how to seek help.

If stress responses interfere with your daily activities for several consecutive days, consult a healthcare professional.

 

Things you can do to increase your stamina:

· Avoid overexposure to COVID-19 related media broadcasts.

Take good care of your body. Try to eat healthy, balanced meals, exercise regularly, sleep abundantly, avoid alcohol and drugs.

Take time to relax and remind yourself that intense emotions will pass. Take a break from watching, reading or listening to the news. It may be sad to hear the crisis repeatedly and see the images. Try to do some other activities you like to return to your normal life.

· Connect with other people. Share your concerns and how you feel with a friend or family member. Maintain healthy relationships.

Maintain a sense of hope and keep thinking positively.

Share current information and risk about COVID-19 with others. People who have passed more than 14 days since they returned from the regions where the outbreak continues and do not have COVID-19 symptoms do not risk others.

 

What is quarantine and social distance?

Quarantine separates people exposed to an infectious disease from others to see if they are ill and restricts their movements.

Social distance distance means avoiding places where people meet or gather, avoid local public transport (such as buses, metro, marmaray, taxi, ride-on cars) and maintain distance (about 2 meters) from others.

Sharing the right information can help you soothe and connect with others' fears.

 

Suggestions for parents:

Children react to some extent against what they see from adults around them. Parents and caregivers can provide their children with the best support when they cope calmly and safely with COVID-19. Parents can be more reassuring for others, especially children, if they are better prepared.

 

Not all children react to stress in the same way. Common changes that should be followed in children:

Excessive crying and irritability

· Growing and returning to the behaviors they left behind (for example, problems with controlling the toilet, such as nail biting, nighttime urinary incontinence, poop incontinence)

Extreme anxiety or sadness

Unhealthy eating or sleeping habits

Behaviors such as easy anger and sudden anger attacks

Worsening school performance or avoiding school

Attention and difficulty of concentration

Avoiding past activities

Unexplained headache or body aches

Use of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs

 

There are many things you can do to support your child:

Take time to talk to your child about the COVID-19 outbreak. Answer questions about COVID-19 and share the facts in a way your child can understand.

Assure your child that he is safe. If they feel sad and troubled, state that there is nothing wrong with that. Share how you coped with your own stress so they can learn how to deal with you.

Limit your child's exposure to publications about the event. Children can misinterpret what they hear and fear something they don't understand.

Help your child have a sense of firmness. When it is safe to return to school or home, help them return to their usual activities.

Be a role model; take breaks, get plenty of sleep, exercise and eat well. Stay connected with your friends and family and trust your social support system.

 

Recommendations for the response team:

Interfering with COVID-19 can cause you an emotional burden. There are things you can do to reduce secondary traumatic stress responses:

Recognize that secondary stress can develop in anyone who helps families after a traumatic event.

· Learn physical (fatigue, illness) and mental (fear, withdrawal, guilt) symptoms.

Give yourself and your family time to overcome the effects of the outbreak response.

Include self-care activities that you enjoy in your daily life, such as spending time with friends and family, exercising or reading a book.

Take a break from watching COVID-19 related publications.

If you are worried or overwhelmed that COVID-19 affects your ability to care for your family and patients, as you did before the outbreak, seek help.

 

Suggestions for people quitting the quarantine:

When a healthcare provider thinks you may have been exposed to COVID-19, even if you are not sick, leaving others can be stressful.

Some typical responses after exiting the COVID-19 quarantine are:

Mixed feelings, including post-quarantine relief

Fear and anxiety about your own health and loved ones that may have been exposed to COVID-19

· Stress from constantly monitoring yourself and being watched by others in terms of signs and symptoms of COVID-19

Sadness, anger or disappointment because your friends or loved ones have unfounded fears that they will get sick due to contact with you, although it is found that you are not infectious.

Feeling of guilt due to inability to perform normal work or parenting duties during quarantine

Other emotional changes than these

Children may also experience sadness or other intense feelings when they or someone they know comes out of quarantine. You can help your child cope.

Along with all these suggestions, you can call the online professional support +905447243650 or +90532 158 35 55 lines to deal with the problem.