Are young people at risk for stress due to the epidemic?
Young people may experience anxiety because of the constant exposure to information about the coronavirus on the social media platform or on the internet, and when even some of this information is not correct. In addition to news sites, frequent sharing of information about the coronavirus on Twitter, whatsupp and Instagram, especially the more exaggerated information, news in the form of doomsday predictions can make the virus feel more threatening than it is. Information on the Internet, news tends to exaggerate or write worst-case scenarios. .Reliable information sources with high expertise such as World Health Organization and Ministry of Health, TTB (Turkish Medical Association), KLİMİK (Turkish Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases), TPD (Turkish Psychiatric Association), COGEPDER (Turkish Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Association), They are not places where young people usually go to get information. Parents should be aware of the sources from which young people get information and provide them with the right resources.
The amount of information and the complexity of information emerging at the same time will confuse young people as well. It is difficult for young people to understand what is real and what is fake, and therefore they may experience anxiety, fear and anxiety. Although the risk of contracting the virus is low or the rate of passing the disease with mild clinical symptoms is high, it is stated that fear is increasing among young people.
Youth period; It takes place between childhood and adulthood and ends with physical, spiritual and sexual maturation. In fact, it is an “intermediate stop or bridge” between childhood and adulthood. In this period, the adolescent seeks answers to the questions of what he is and will be according to himself, and what he is and will be according to others. He is curious about everything. It questions everything. It is impulsive. They exhibit behaviors contrary to the emotional bonds they have developed with their parents in previous years. It shows features that are less accommodating, less obedient, more difficult to control, oscillating between dependency and independence dilemma. Sometimes it’s a child, sometimes it’s an all-knowing adult. It oscillates between childhood and adolescence. He fights with his parents for their right to independence. Conflict arises especially in maintenance and control issues. Adequate environment will be more accommodating, digesting adolescent aggressive behavior, which is given opportunities for appropriate approach, competition, and success. Inappropriate attitudes, on the other hand, can lead to uncontrolled aggression, shyness, feelings of being unsuccessful, incapable of being an incompetent individual, and tending towards minority and dissimilar groups, which will often be temporary. It is important for parents to be tolerant and sensitive. Approaches that listen to the adolescent instead of quarreling with him, discuss with him, value his ideas, leave him a space where he can define himself, allow him to compete with himself and become entrepreneurial, and support him in his relationship with his peers will be important for the young person to get through this period without any problems.
Recognize the signs of stress
It is an expected situation that stress symptoms will occur in those who are faced with an epidemic that affects human health so much in their daily life. Because in various parts of the world, the fact that the people they love or themselves are affected or likely to be affected by the epidemic is a source of stress in itself. However, we can accept stress as normal, which does not disrupt our daily life and contributes to our protection by enabling us to take precautions against the epidemic.
It will be risky for conflicts and stress for a young person who has come out of childhood and started the journey towards adulthood to stay at home during the epidemic and stay in the same environment with his parents all day during the period when he should be away from his parents. Every young person will respond differently to this challenging process. They will choose different ways of coping, from acting as if there is no epidemic and exhibiting risky behaviors to being very anxious.
It is important for parents to take care of their and their children’s physical and mental health during and after the infectious disease epidemic. Parents need to know the signs of stress in themselves and their children, learn how to cope with stress and when to seek help.
Know the signs of stress
Behavioral, physical, emotional and cognitive responses to stress are detailed below. It is important that you recognize the stress-related symptoms that occur during or after this pandemic. In the presence of a pre-existing mental problem, it may manifest as an increase in the severity of psychological symptoms or the emergence of new symptoms.
Restlessness, nervousness, or excessive crying
An increase in irritability with outbursts of anger and frequent arguments
Worrying that something bad will happen in daily life
Difficulty communicating or listening
blaming other people for everything
Difficulty maintaining attention and concentrating
Having trouble remembering certain things
having difficulty making a decision
Difficulty falling asleep, waking up late
easy fatigue
An increase or decrease in energy and activity level
Having trouble relaxing or sleeping
crying often
excessive worry
often wanting to be alone
Reluctance, lack of pleasure or amusement
Difficulty giving or accepting help
Increased self-confidence, being overly cheerful, or feeling untouchable
don’t care about anything
Increase in your use of alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs
Having stomach or diarrhea
Having headaches and other pains
Appetite changes, loss of appetite or overeating
Sweating or shaking or muscle twitching
Suggestions for coping with stress
Parents should take time for themselves and take care of their mental health. Parents who have problems themselves cannot adequately help their children. Again, the risk of developing mental problems is high in the children of parents who have mental problems.
Limit time spent reading or watching news about the epidemic. Set limits. Check to see if your child can step away from the news to focus on the things that are going well in their life. Make sure he makes time for the good stuff.
Learn about how you can protect yourself and your child against illness. Talk about your feelings about the epidemic, share reliable health information. Find people and resources you can trust for accurate information for your child. talk to them. Provide guidance for correcting incorrect information.
Pay attention to your food and physical exercises, learn and practice relaxation exercises to keep yourself and your child healthy.
Uncertainty is a major source of stress for children and young people. Try to preserve your daily routines and rituals as much as possible. Make schedules for certain times during the day (create time slots with a clear frame) rather than living an “undetermined day” to be lived throughout the day.
Learn the symptoms of stress. Don’t jump when symptoms appear, notice them.
When should you seek help?
Even if you have little or no risk of getting sick from an infectious disease, you may experience serious distress. Especially for young people who are constantly fed by different, inconsistent, misinformation sources, spend all their time at home, and are in the developmental period of gaining independence from their parents, difficult processes can be experienced. When it enters your daily life with measures such as curfews and distance education due to the epidemic, young people who are in an important and turbulent period of development will be more risky in terms of mental impact. Influencing young people can be affected by many reasons such as misinformation, restrictions in daily life, being together with their parents all day, exposure to their warnings and restrictions, experiences of being sick and lost due to the epidemic in their environment, continuation and exacerbation of old psychiatric diseases.
Know that feeling stressed, sad, or angry is common after an event, such as an infectious disease outbreak, even when it doesn’t directly threaten you and your child.
If your child shows signs of stress for a few days or weeks, is more irritable, distressed, unhappy, anxious, you should seek help. If young people talk or write about the meaninglessness of life, harming themselves or others, or death, dying, or suicide, you should seek immediate psychiatric help.
