Covid-19 Pandemic:
The Covid 19 pandemic has grievously affected women's mental health and there can be no better day than the International Women’s Day for them to take a pledge to pay heed to this important aspect just as they do about their physical health. They have been suffering from anxiety and depression like never before. Covid-forced isolation has robbed them from the comfort of sharing their innermost thoughts and struggles with friends and relatives. There's no respite and no relief. Since the past one and a half years, they have been holed in at their homes, unable to even socialise and laugh with their neighbours.
Domestic Violence :
Spouses are forced to stay together whole day long and differences and quarrels erupt. Their whole-day unbridled interactions can turn into domestic violence. That causes a lot of stress and anxiety among women. Everyday, many complaints are coming to women helplines, one stop centres and shelters.
Financial Problems:
The pandemic has caused great financial distress and even loss of incomes. Women are unable to send their children to prestigious schools, or provide them the same lifestyle.
Disrupted Routine:
Women's everyday routine has gone for a toss with the advent of the pandemic. They were used to working in the morning, sending off kids to school, husbands would leave for office and women could get precious time to spend on themselves - working on their jobs or resting. However, now everyone stays at home the whole day and their work has increased manifold. And if someone contracts Covid at home or dies, their work increases even more. Hence, women are now the most stressed.
Anxiety and Depression:
Women should keep a check on any negative emotions, should ensure they don't get tensed or depressed. They should keep a lookout for signs of depression such as constant sadness, crying easily, irritability, no interest in daily activities, inability to eat or sleep properly and weight loss. Many women are also facing stress, nervousness, getting worked up on little issues, inability to sit still, palpitations, profuse sweating, etc. In fact, women are suffering more from anxiety during Covid than depression. If the same situation persists for more than two weeks, women should recognise they aren't fine and should seek immediate help.
Women put themselves last:
Women don't take proper care of themselves but rather invest all their time and energy in caring for their family. A report came recently according to which Indian women eat the least amount of food and last of all. Their eating habits negatively affects their mental health. So women should ensure that they eat a well balanced nutritious full meal. Also, women have a habit of doing everything themselves and not delegating work. During pandemic times their workload is immense. Women need to ask others to pitch in with their share of work.
Speak out:
Women should share their domestic problems with others. Women mistakenly feel they shouldn't tell the hardships they are facing to anyone else. Women need to talk to whoever they feel close to, or a doctor they are meeting. Also, they should ensure a 'me-time' for themselves everyday wherein they enjoy their favourite activity outside of house work such as painting, knitting, reading, watching shows, etc. If they are facing any kind of domestic violence, they should immediately reach out for women's helplines or one stop centres for advice so there's proper relief.
Self care:
Women should be able to differentiate when they can handle their anxiety themselves and when they need to take medication or doctor's help. Many women wrongly believe these thoughts and emotions shouldn't be shared with a doctor as the doctors can't do anything. But if they realise its been more than 2-3 weeks, and nothing is making them feel better or if they have thoughts of suicide or self harm or the family members notice something like this, a mental health doctor should be consulted. With counselling or advice or even medication if needed, women can gain back their zest for life.