Coronavirus and Mental Health

Coronavirus is a dangerous disease to humans. So far, there’s not enough data on who is susceptible, why and in what conditions. Many things in life are dangerous so danger is not something new. We need to inform ourselves and with all the media and social attention that the virus has already got, assuredly most people are already fairly well-informed about the precautions they need to take to protect themselves and others around them. So, without detailing them here again for fear of unnecessary repetition, once you take the necessary precautions, you’re good to deal with it (coronavirus). And, even if you, dear reader or someone close does get infected, fear not for it’s not necessarily a killer. If one has worked on his health, lungs and breathing, chances are the virus might infect but cause little damage, if any...depending on how well one’s looked after himself. But coronavirus has come along with many other previously inexperienced conditions, such as isolation, lockdown, loneliness and so on. Also, one might hear of someone close being infected or worse and that might create an additional source of tension, worry or depression. So, let’s try and examine this from a different and wider perspective. Loneliness is a condition where one is not happy in his own company and so desires the company of another. However, if one changes his perspective and views this as an opportunity to get to know himself better through meditation, reading, pursuing hobbies and so on, loneliness will not remain loneliness. It will be transformed into a retreat. A retreat can be a beautiful experience. Tension or worry happens when one is pulled in different directions. So, if our attention moves too much into the future we might feel a certain tension. Worry is not knowing what the future holds. But, that’s the nature of future. It’s uncertain. One might worry or one may choose to be excited. After all, what is the purpose or value of life if there’s no new experience? How can one learn, how can one grow if there’s never a new experience? So, worry is just a waste of current energy for a future possibility. Depression is basically an unwillingness to accept things as they are. When one desires something but doesn’t get it, he can either accept the new situation or start throwing tantrums for someone to respond to. Perhaps, like little children who when unable to get something that’s caught their fancy, resort to bawling, throwing things and flailing their limbs, an adult may not do that but it’s like doing the same thing. Perhaps, as children their expectations or desires were fulfilled when they threw tantrums or they saw other children whose expectations were met. And, it stayed somewhere deep inside the psyche. So, depression, in my opinion, is merely an unwillingness to accept life or some condition in life. Perhaps, one needs to grow up somewhere deep inside. Is there any one - ANY ONE - whose every desire or wish or expectation is always fulfilled? No, that’s just not the case. So, let’s be realistic and acknowledge that life is not tasked with fulfilling every thing we desire from it. Instead, let’s turn into LIFE ADVENTURERS. Let’s venture willingly and consciously into every new situation and experience. Our awareness and willingness to EXPERIENCE will make every difficult and even an unsavory experience into something unique, into a special experience that will leave us lasting gifts whose value we may not recognize immediately but will surely do for a long time because they will have taught us something very special. Smile, smile wide and be ready to venture into unexplored territory with the anticipation of a life adventurer as you leave loneliness, worry, tension and depression packed into a little box and thrown into a corner of the past. SMILE! Life beckons you! - Rajesh Kanoi (rajyogi) https://rajyogi.wixsite.com/lifecoach