Author: Dr Sonal Anand, Psychiatrist, Wockhardt Hospital, Mumbai
The current scenario is not just a contagion-related phenomenon but also a psychological,
emotional and social pandemic. Unprecedented circumstances have led to unpredictable fears and anxieties about the future. The economic crisis is being feared so much that Government lockdowns are undergoing protests and resistance as people are going through economic uncertainties because, in the end, demands have to be met.
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With so much economic instability, the fear of losing one’s job has become one of the most common effects of the pandemic. The important question here is how much stress can be handled by the body and the mind?
Current scenario
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The pressure to perform at work with deadlines and job insecurities has always existed. Recent circumstances have made it more stressful. Anxiety and depression cases have increased since the pandemic and so has job insecurity; it’s become one of the known causes of mood disorders in working adults. Sometimes we don’t realise how stressed we are despite the body giving numerous cues. The brain is equipped to handle certain amounts of stress, but if the stress is substantial and prolonged then the body starts suffering.
Response to stress
It is known that when the brain is exposed to a difficult situation, evolution answers with the ‘Fight or Flight response’. This initiates a cascade of neurotransmitters and hormonal changes so that the body either prepares to fight or run away from the situation. This causes the pupils to dilate to improve vision, respiration rate to rise to increase oxygen to muscles, heart rate to rise to increase blood supply to the muscles, and other changes in the gastrointestinal nervous system. When we undergo chronic stress, this physical response goes in overdrive and causes increased wear and tear of the body and mind.
Physical response
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Continuous stress, especially under such circumstances, predisposes to cardiac and respiratory problems. Systemic Hypertension (rise in BP) and Coronary artery disease are constantly rising in young men and a major factor is a poor lifestyle combined with work stress. Day-to-day stress also predisposes to problems of the respiratory system – mostly Asthma.
Stress causes many disorders of the Gastrointestinal system namely acidity, irritable bowel syndrome, appetite changes leading to weight loss or weight gain. Endocrine response to sustained stress causes the early onset of obesity and diabetes. It is now not uncommon to see diabetes in the late 30s.
Response of the brain and mind
The effects of work stress on the brain and mind are equally disturbing. It can give rise to sleep problems and poor concentration at work. Memory issues are prevalent due to lowered focus, and productivity also decreases. One can become quite irritable and have anger issues. Anger outbursts can happen at the office as well due to increased pressure.
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Mood disorders are known in people who are facing stress at work. Increased anxiety due to fear of poor performance at work gives poor productivity. Depression is commonly seen in people facing chronic office stress. It results in low mood, inertia, inability to enjoy things, low concentration, and sometimes even thoughts of self-harm. High-pressure jobs can lead to distorted negative thoughts of hopelessness and lead to suicide. We are seeing increased rates of suicidal attempts in this pandemic. Stress causes some people to maladapt to find relief in alcohol, smoking or recreational substances. The side effects can be quite detrimental and counterproductive.
How to help yourself
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Fear of the future can lead us to maladapt in many ways. Not focusing on the moment and worrying about the future can have drastic effects on performance. Therefore, having action-oriented thoughts can help. Mindfulness teaches us how to live in the moment and increase capacity handling. Yoga and meditation are de-stressing activities with a scientific basis.
It’s important to follow compassion in these turbulent times. If one is mentally healthy, then one becomes equipped to face uncertain situations. We must remember that the whole world is going through an economic crisis and only by supporting each other can we overcome this social pandemic.
Lead Image Credit: Piku, MSM Motion Pictures
