The Right Behaviors to Shape the Pandemic

As the Covid-19 pandemic continues, the feeling of waking up to a new day every day has affected us all and continues to do so. The things that were done with much more pleasure at the beginning are no longer enjoyable. Underlining that our mental health is as important as our physical health at this point, Mental Health and Diseases specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Naz Berfu Akbaş said that in many evaluations made so far, the importance of people's behavior in shaping pandemics has been revealed.

Worrying about ourselves or our relatives getting sick and dying are valid feeling for all of us these days. Yeditepe University Hospitals Mental Health and Diseases specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Naz Berfu Akbaş said that it should not be forgotten that it is psychological phenomena as well as physical treatments that manage and control a pandemic. Underlining that the right behaviors of people are very effective in shaping the pandemic, she listed these behaviors...

Do Not Say "Nothing Will Happen to Me"

Reminding that every person reacts differently to stress, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Naz Berfu Akbaş said that some people can enter into this "nothing will happen to me" thought by activating the denial mechanism in stress situations. Reminding that this approach affects other people as well as the person themselves, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Naz Berfu Akbaş said, "First of all, we are all responsible for the health of other people, such thoughts and approaches will put both ourselves and those around us at risk, so we should definitely follow the warnings and precautions."

Do Not Let Fear and Anxiety Rule You

Stating that another reaction seen in people during the stress period is the transformation of anxiety, which should normally be anxiety, into fear and panic, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Naz Berfu Akbaş stated that the shopping spree is a result of this panic and explained the following. "Such people become unable to control their thoughts and behaviors and may begin to exhibit selfishness, disregard for the needs of others, and impulsive and aggressive behaviors. Overstocking is an example of this behavior. The fear of people who shop frantically in grocery stores can easily be transferred to you. During pandemic periods, you only need to stock up for 2 weeks, a behavior that will not put both service providers and those who really need it in a difficult situation. At the same time, in times of high uncertainty and anxiety, the likelihood of making the wrong decision increases. Therefore, not making important decisions is actually the best option."

Try to Be More Tolerant

Reminding that as the days go by, as the isolation period lengthens, the intolerance of people at home, at work, or on the street may increase gradually, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Naz Berfu Akbaş stated that this is an extremely natural behavior that needs to be controlled and explained the following: "We should try to control ourselves better, especially in environments where employees such as markets, health institutions, and pharmacies are at high risk, knowing that these people are more stressed than us. As a society, we should be more tolerant and understanding, for example, we should try to warn people who misbehave in an appropriate language without escalating the tension."

Do Not Hesitate to Seek Psychological Support When Necessary

Excessive anxiety can cause symptoms such as insomnia, restlessness, palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, and difficulty concentrating. Stating that individual psychiatric help may be required in such cases, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Naz Berfu Akbaş said, "Individuals with a previous diagnosis of OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder), Hypochondriasis (Fear of disease), or generalized anxiety disorder are likely to worsen their psychological state in such periods. These people should definitely take precautions by consulting their doctors."

Prevent Ingodemia (Information Epidemic)

Another important point in managing pandemic psychology is to control the "information epidemic", also called "Infodemic". Stating that this situation, which is considered as the exchange of false information, is a disease of the new age, Yeditepe University Hospital Mental Health and Diseases Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Naz Berfu Akbaş explained how to be protected from this situation as follows: "A lot of misinformation spreads very quickly on social media. More than half of it is driving people to greater anxiety and despair. This makes it difficult to manage the pandemic. It is good practice to not only publish numbers of sick and deceased people but also numbers of recovered individuals. Reducing the time spent on social media and following reliable sources will be another important step in managing pandemic psychology."

Be Helpful

Underlining that we should see ourselves as a part of a larger whole in these difficult times, Yeditepe University Kozyatağı Hospital Mental Health and Diseases specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Naz Berfu Akbaş said, "If we act as responsible, helpful, self-controlled people, we will give the greatest support to people who are struggling with the disease in other lanes such as health, public order, and service sectors."

Reminding that "uncertainty" and "unknown" situations have an important place among the situations that stress people the most, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Naz Berfu Akbaş continued her words as follows "People may be afraid of illness, but they may also be in economic uncertainty. The important roles of leaders and managers emerge here. People expect their leaders to give them hope and a sense of control. In such troubled times, the honesty and transparency of leaders and managers will increase public trust in them and reduce the feeling of panic."