Stop! Do Not Panic When Tested COVID Positive

Storytime:

One night Vithika had a severe headache. She thought it was normal for anybody who had a tough day. She was off to her bed thinking that she might be tired. The next morning she had severe body pains, was unable to get out of her bed, and was high on temperature. She thought it was all happening to her due to weather change so she had a few medicines. Later, as her condition became worse she consulted a doctor, the doctor examined her, and finally, she came to know that she was tested COVID positive. She started wondering how could she be tested positive? Then that incident struck her mind when she had to go to a provision store to buy a few essentials and that was when this virus hit her.

She started overthinking about her situation,

Had thoughts like,

Am I going to die?
Are there any chances of my recovery?
What will others think about me?
They will treat me as if I have committed a crime.

When her neighbours came to know that she was tested positive they started giving weird expressions, started treating her in a way that she herself felt ashamed of her condition. This made Vithika terribly upset about her situation. When she was taken in the ambulance, meanwhile people started clicking pictures instead of wishing her speedy recovery. Observing all this she was completely broken from inside

She even started googling about her situation, started watching news related it, and ended up freaking out and because of this, she developed anxiety which as time passed by became a chronic illness.

In the due course of time, she was tested negative but her mental health was not stable as she developed anxiety at that time and is under medication to date. There was this fear that got instilled in her mind regarding the situation that adversely affected her mental health.

Many people like Vithika when tested COVID positive might have been experiencing mental health issues like overthinking, panicking, stress, and they eventually develop anxiety issues. Panicking when tested positive does not help you in any way. You need to have a positive outlook. Remember, your mental health is also important. So do not panic or overthink when tested COVID positive.

So here are a few tips to take care of your body and mind when tested positive.

Personal care:

Remember, you are the only one who can take care of yourself, others can only support you during these situations. Have proper sleep as it will recharge your mind and body. Take medicines on time. Make sure that you only rest because this is the time where your body seeks for rest, so do not ignore it. If neglected, it will have a major impact on your body and eventually on your mind as well because the mind and body are interconnected.

Do not google or overthink about your condition:

Does overthinking about your situation help you in any way?

Thinking about it can help but overthinking about it is harmful.

Googling and thinking too much about your condition will put you in trouble. When you google about it you will eventually come across a line or a paragraph that tells you about how dangerous your situation is, you will start overthinking about it and will end up panicking which is no way helpful for your speedy recovery.

Distract your mind when you feel that you are thinking too much.

I feel googling and overthinking are connected here, because when you don’t know how critical your condition is, you will not overthink about it but when you have the access to google about it and grasp the information you will obviously overthink about it right?

So you neither google it nor you overthink about it.

Have a positive outlook:

No matter how critical your condition is do not lose hope and faith. Always have a positive mindset. Think that you can recover. Never let a negative thought strike your mind during these situations. Do not give up. Fight back and recover. Your desire to live will help you to recover. When you are feeling low, read the success stories of people who recovered after they tested positive. This will give you hope.

Always be with people, not only in their good times but also in their tough times. Give a call and ask them whether they need any essentials rather than asking them to narrate how did it all happen. I have also seen people who click pictures when the COVID victim is going to be admitted in the hospital. Doing this might make them feel insecure, so stop doing this rather, wish them for their speedy recovery by messaging via WhatsApp. Text them not to worry about their family and also mention that you are there to take care of their family. this is the time where people should help each other. Take the initiative of helping people by asking them whether you could help them in any way. When they ask you to help, take the necessary precautionary measures, and help them. For instance, prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner for them and place the parcel near their doorstep and give a call to them asking them to collect it. But remember to take precautionary measures when you are helping others.

Support emotionally, use phrases like

“Don’t worry you will recover”

“We are all here to help you”

These phrases might seem to be simple but gives immense strength to the victim and helps him to fight against COVID.

After you recover thank everybody who has been with you during these tough times. Create awareness among people in detail about how you felt, what happened, where it all started, what to do, and what not to do. Share your story in detail as it will inspire others to fight against the virus when they are affected. It might be anybody, your relative, your friend, your neighbour who can be affected. The only thing we can do is support them emotionally.