Lockdown is not easy. It is the undeniable truth about a complex situation modern day humans have to deal with but without knowing how to handle it. As for us, the world slowing down in this unusual way was unexpected. Ignorance is not always bliss one may add. Yet, we cannot dismiss the obvious reality by trying to romanticise the struggle without fully understanding the experience or ignoring and neglecting it.
All of us are not the same. We need to settle down to fully grasp the experience, yet most of us are uncertain as how to settle down in this peculiar situation and most of us do not have the choice of settling down, let alone understand the experience.
It is not right to simplify the matter by arguing mage nivana mage pelpathayi when there are people who could not even reach home and some may not even have homes to be in. Even for those who have a solid shelter above their heads, pantries and refrigerators full of food, not so empty bank accounts, enabling them to swipe the card freely at the store when the curfew is lifted, is home really where the heart is? Is home the place for all of us? Are we all capable of handling trauma just by being at home? Do we all have support?
There are many questions. The ultimate truth is that this COVID-19/ corona lockdown can be a mental health crisis for some of us but not necessarily for all.
If we research regarding the COVID-19/ Corona pandemic and increased mental health issues, there will be surprising and distressing findings for us to give a clear picture of the unknown, unpredictable never ending like situation which affected all aspects of our lives.
There is no argument that this causes higher levels of distress and lower levels of physical and mental health which can lead us to feel that we have very little or no satisfaction in life. The truth is truth!
While the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world together though physically distancing us, those who are lucky enough to witness what is happening in the global village right now may know most of the things as NEWS. You may know by now how people are killed in India, while trying to reach home, how low income workers in America are vulnerable to layoffs, how Muslim people around the world are unable to follow their rites or rituals for the dead at times or, how some Europeans are not able to bring home bread and other essentials..
These are part of the structural and social issues that we have not discussed before because we were too busy with our diurnal race. Perhaps we neglected to choose the leaders who create policies and rules which enable to help and support us in a crisis like this. Does it mean we are going to make informed decisions in the future when and if this crisis is over? Does this mean that even those who are working from home and having the full pay cheque transferred to the bank account will think twice about social issues with more empathy and responsibility?
Let us leave those important matters for a while and look at other important matters. Does this mean that even those who live comfortable lives would look at the person sitting next to and eating dinner with them and want to understand that person as a person who shares the same raw human experience? Or are we all just waiting to get back to the race?
While you wait, it is important that you try everything possible to keep your spirits high and stay positive. With our own differences and as we choose, we can always try to find ways to keep up with our mental as well as physical well-being. One may sing a song to a child or post a yoga video on social media or take a silent walk in the woods.
Another one may cry while another may suffer from not being able to have the drink they used to have. Yet, another one may find pride in working in the frontline.
We are all humans. We are all vulnerable. Let’s just be kind to ourselves. The hope is this too shall pass.