Editorial comment – Anxiety and panic attacks

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FILE PHOTO: Vials of investigational coronavirus disease (COVID-19) treatment drug remdesivir are capped at a Gilead Sciences facility in La Verne, California, U.S. March 18, 2020. Gilead Sciences Inc/Handout via REUTERS.

The revelation that cases of anxiety and panic attacks have recently been presented at a Nadi-based private clinic since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country is interesting.

It’s not unexpected though.

Dr Kris Naidu of Prem’s Medical Clinic said he continued to receive cases related to mental health on a daily basis.

“Recently due to COVID-19, there have been a lot of mental health issues, there has been a lot of stress in society, there is a lot of anxiety and there is a lot of panic because of loss of jobs and people keep hearing and reading in the media about something they have never seen,” Dr Naidu said.

“We have recently seen an influx of cases where patients are presented with anxiety attacks or panic attacks and it keeps going up.”

Dr Naidu believes it is a worrying trend that should be considered and addressed urgently. Patients who were presented to his clinic did not have underlying medical conditions and were healthy.

“They lost their jobs. They do not know how they are going to feed their families so this is a huge mental health problem.”

This, he believes, is a side effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The news about the pandemic can make people restless. All this can take its toll on people,” he said.

The experts will tell us that anxiety is a normal reaction to uncertainty.

COVID-19 does cast an uncertain future for us all.

These are definitely stressful times for thousands of people in Fiji, and millions around the world.

On the home front, thousands of people have lost their jobs.

They have lost the ability to put food on the table.

This obviously casts doubt on their ability to look after and cater for the welfare of their loved ones.

That on its own will no doubt take a jolt at the senses.

Thousands of people are on reduced hours, and many have been forced to take leave without pay.

These are unusual times indeed. In the face of the uncertainty, there will no doubt be anxiety over how we will come out of this episode.

The challenge is on us all to find workable solutions.

This places pressure on the powers that be to be part of the solution, to keep people focused, and motivated.

It’s not going to be easy.

But it has to be done.

Perhaps we can take control of our own feelings by being in control of the things we can control.

Now that’s quite a mouthful!

That means adhering to the rules that will safeguard us against COVID-19.

Adhere strictly to social distancing.

Wash your hands often with soap and water, or use a hand sanitiser.

Cough or sneeze into your elbow, or into a tissue and dispose this safely.

Stop shaking hands and do not hug others.

Stay at home and reduce unnecessary travel.

Let’s take care, and stay safe Fiji.

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