New Delhi: The COVID-19 pandemic, apart from being one of the biggest healthcare crisis that the world has seen has brought with itself a sense of uncertainty and doom, something that has been impacting each one of us, ever since the pandemic started to take over our normal lives, as we knew them. As liner blur between what was normal, is normal and is likely to be normal in the years to come, the pandemic has had certain collateral damages to physical and mental health that are impossible to ignore. 

While initially, people looked at this time as an opportunity to spend a few extra hours with their loved ones, the narrative soon shifted to strained personal and professional relationships, increased domestic violence, and a spike in emotional and physical abuse. Speaking with Ms Arouba Kabir, Mental Health Therapist and Counsellor, Ensowellness, Gurgaon, Anushree Gupta, from Times Now Digital explored the ways in which the pandemic has affected interpersonal relationships, their effect on mental health, and the number of people actually going out and seeking help for these conditions. Here are some excerpts from the interview.

Anushree Gupta: Are you seeing an increase in the number of people contacting professionals for mental health conditions during the pandemic?

Arouba Kabir: Absolutely, there has been a spike of about 30% in the number of enquiry calls and messages we’ve been receiving from the onset of the pandemic. Although I’d agree that not everyone ends up taking therapy but the sheer awareness that is spreading is very encouraging. People are seeking out for professional help, they are deciding to resolve their issues rather than pushing them under the carpet. We have also seen a considerable spike in the number of corporate employees reaching out to us, both on an organizational level and a personal level. 

Anushree Gupta: How has the pandemic adversely affected personal relationships between partners, parents and children, and colleagues?

Arouba Kabir: In a very unprecedented way, COVID has forced families and partners to spend a lot of time together. Initially, the picture was as rosy as possible but eventually, the intrusion of privacy and space led to increased upheavals and strenuous relationships leading to a massive toll on the mental health of various individuals. However, I’d agree that it gave individuals an opportunity to bond better with their close ones but it was followed by a lot of tension in the interpersonal relationships as well. The looming uncertainties added to these mental crises and without having proper channels to vent, we did see an increase in cases of domestic abuse, substance abuse and addictions. Due to the presence of existing unresolved issues, people faced difficulties in facing their emotions and then portraying these with their partners, parents or colleagues. We’ve seen a spike in separation & divorces however we’ve also seen individuals coming up and trying to resolve these issues. 

Anushree Gupta: What are some psychological and mental health effects of poor personal relationships in people?

Arouba Kabir: The purpose of a relationship is to be there for one another and form a bond of trust, love and respect. When someone is at odds with their own self, it is irrational to expect that it won’t affect their relationships with people around them. Over a course of the period, some of these people might become introverts or anti-social in some scenarios, this leads to feelings of loneliness, anxiety and depression. It’s absolutely normal to not have a perfect day every day but maintaining relationships with people where you can talk, grow and share your emotions is important. Lacking in doing so, leads to bottling up of emotions-making them uncontrollable and preparing a stage for an emotional outburst. 

Anushree Gupta: What are some common causes of the rise in mental health issues during COVID-19?

Arouba Kabir: COVID-19 brought with itself a slurry of emotions. Being restricted to the four walls of their homes, people could not escape from their emotions. On a usual day, we keep side-lining our issues, like if we feel lonely, we’ll go grab a drink, if we feel sad, we’ll go shop.

Staying away from any such social distraction made people come face-to-face with their realities and their unresolved conflicts, situations and emotions. Thus, having to unreel this emotional turmoil, without any past experience in dealing with it has definitely caused a stir and a rise in the mental health issues during these already testing times.

Anushree Gupta: How is suffering from the disease likely to affect a person’s mental health?

Arouba Kabir: Disease is anything which makes you in a state of Dis-ease! Thus sufferings, be it due to a physical or mental illness is sure to cause alterations and consequences in various domains of life if not checked and corrected. Suffering from a disease comes with various treatment options, uncertainties pertaining to the prognosis, the affordability, the stigmas surrounding treatment above the battle the body and mind are already facing. It debilitates the condition further spiralling the individual further down. It’s often said, Will power is the strongest medicine and I vouch for this personally and professionally! 

Anushree Gupta: What are some tips you would like to give people to improve personal relationships during this time?

Arouba Kabir: It’s important to realize the difference between a feeling and a state of mind. It’s absolutely okay to feel sad but it’s not okay to be depressed. It affects the people around you- because they care! So reach out to a loved one and share your emotions with them. Communication is the key to maintain any relationship. Sometimes it’s important to seek professional consultation to help sail your ship through the winding storms in your head, as a therapist can help you navigate. Our mind is our strongest weapon and we can either let it consume us or let it direct us towards a more productive, happy and healthy lifestyle.

Views represented are those of the author and do not in any way represent those of Times Network.