Covid Awareness

Worsening of pre-existing mental illnesses during COVID-19 outbreak.

With the ongoing pandemic, the lifestyle all around the world has changed drastically. With the new lifestyle, come new behavioural changes that complement the advised protocol issued by the health departments everywhere. The basic protocol is wearing a mask, maintaining a good distance of an arm’s length, avoiding social gatherings and staying home as much as possible.

Apart from the understandable struggle that is changing one's lifestyle so suddenly, these rules or guidelines are easy to follow. Yet there are people who are unwilling to follow the protocol sincerely.

Here, we talk about the possible reasons behind this unrequired delinquency that some people exhibit.

1) Denial: There is no denying that the idea of co-existing with a virus that has proven to be a fatal for many is scary and a rather unsettling one. Some people find it easy to deal with this situation or any other stressful situation by ignoring its existence altogether. Denying something becomes an easy way out and relieves one of all the unwanted stress and anxiety. Although in this situation, it is turning out to be a problem since the fight here is against a virus which can’t be solved this way.

2) Seems Unreal: Perhaps, since some people may have not experienced the virus in close proximity or know someone who came down with it or who is working as an essential worker currently ( relative or someone known). They might undermine its seriousness and the need for these protocols. You wouldn't abide by the safety measures if you don't think the coronavirus is as dangerous as everyone says.

3) Control: Defying guidelines may make some feel as if they have control over the situation. Going around without wearing a mask, not maintaining a distance and hosting big gatherings, all these acts may make some think as if they have control over the situation while in reality, they don't. They might feel as if they have their life back and everything is normal but the truth is far from it.

4) Existential crisis: It appears to be that some people have given up caution and resumed their normal life because they feel this whole situation is inevitable and that they are bound to catch it sooner or later. Therefore, it seems like a good idea to keep on living as they were and make the best out of the situation. This is nothing, but another way of coping with the situation. The problem with this is that their behaviour and inability to follow rules becomes a problem for the society. The virus is contagious, and more importantly, it can be asymptomatic, making it hard to identify. These people not only put their own lives at risk but also of others, specifically those who fall into the high-risk category.

5) Personalities: It may vary for different personalities, but the narcissistic personalities are most likely to not follow rules and go the other way than recommended. They hold themselves at a really high pedestal and often ridicule and belittle others and their opinions. It is quite possible that they might be reacting the same way in this situation. Other category is of those who have a hard time believing everything and following protocol. They'll most likely come up with their own guidelines and act accordingly. The research done for these guidelines may not be of the level of the actual guidelines provided by the health officials.

6) Too much information: Often in times like these, it is seen that people get confused with the amount of information that there is to know. The creation of internet and technology didn’t really help in this case since now people can just google and have a list of do's and don'ts. To filter the absurd and stick with the legitimate information becomes a task and many fail to keep up. Initially in the pandemic there was a discussion about whether masks are useful or not or how the virus can be spread through eating meat and what not. It is a new situation for science itself so mistakes are bound to happen along the way. The only way to be safe and keep everyone around you safe is to try being smart and informed as well as keep up with what's going on and what's right.