We have already been in lockdown for a month due to the coronavirus pandemic, and its side effects are slightly worrying. There is hardly a day when I don't see at least one of the following scenarios on social networks: men who shave bald, self-proclaimed fitness trainers who record various educational videos, masterchefs who show every step of their recipes on Instagram stories , to those who simply burst from working on yourself.
As a psychologist I was rather unpleasantly surprised by the number of people who react really badly to this isolation. Even individuals who are normally more withdrawn and do not prefer to socialize with others as much do not really care. Warmer days are coming, and the sun will make staying inside four walls even more difficult. Everyone is already getting a little tired of the film. The latest statistics say that domestic violence has escalated, as victims are locked up with their abusers 0-24. Especially when the temperature rises a little more, which will be an excellent catalyst for the manifestation of aggression.
We humans are social beings – it’s in our blood. And we can’t even talk about any long-term psychological well-being if this need isn’t met. One meta-analysis conducted on 308,000 people says that people with less developed social relationships are 50% more likely to die. Another study states that if there is an extreme change in the environment iceland whatsapp data we live in every day, that change will eventually start to change us as well. Just three weeks of isolation are enough to experience major changes in our sleep hygiene, and our immune, endocrine, metabolic and neurocognitive systems. A third study states that loneliness is as harmful as smoking almost a pack of cigarettes a day.
(Self)isolation due to COVID-19, in addition to the above-mentioned disturbances, can also lead to anxiety, depression, sadness, panic, irritability, loneliness or anger. The range of reactions is not small. And if you have experienced any of the above psychological symptoms at least once, these are completely expected reactions. In quarantine, we sit more and do not use our muscles as usual. Muscles, like our brains, always function according to the rule "what is not used, deteriorates". In extreme cases, atrophy can occur.
Even top athletes start to lose form if their muscles are not under load for more than three consecutive weeks. And where are we as professional athletes? Maybe this is a great situation to start working out from home, and to establish a good habit that you will maintain even after the pandemic is over. Here's a suggestion: work out three days in a row for at least 30-45 minutes, take a day off, then do three more days of training, and then rest for two days. Do three or four such cycles to see how your body reacts in general, and whether any modifications to your training plan need to be introduced.
Anger is also one of the side effects of isolation. Coordinating working from home, young children, and household responsibilities is not easy at all. When you feel like your family members are “getting in over your head,” get away from it all – right away. Go for a walk or run a few laps around the neighborhood to clear your head. Go alone. Trust me, it’s a lot less damaging than staying inside and arguing. When you get back, you’ll be able to look at that heated atmosphere with a cooler head.