Stress during coronavirus disease; psychological impact dimension in children
It is very important to remember that children look to adults and model them on how to respond to stressful events. If parents seem overly anxious, children’s anxiety may increase. A level of anxiety without panic can result in taking measures that reduce the risk of illness. To help children cope with anxiety, a realistic approach should be adopted with the right prevention information, without being overly alert, without appearing overly anxious.
The coronavirus disease outbreak can be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about an illness can be overwhelming. Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. How you respond to the epidemic may depend on your background, what makes you different from other people, and the society you live in. In this epidemic disease, children and young people are among the risky groups in terms of experiencing stress (others health workers, elderly and those with chronic diseases, substance users, those with mental illness). For this reason, care should be taken in terms of mental problems that children who have to spend time at home may experience such as anxiety, fear, sadness, and behavioral changes during the epidemic. When the anxiety level of children increases, it can be very difficult for both themselves and their parents. When parents’ anxiety level is high, it may be difficult for them to fulfill their duties and responsibilities related to protecting themselves and their children.
Teaching children about positive preventive measures, talking to them about their fears, and giving them some sense of control over their disease risk can help reduce anxiety.
Hints that children are affected during the infectious disease epidemic; Does your child have a “fear-anxiety” problem?
Restlessness, nervousness, or excessive crying in young children
Reverting to acquired skills (starting to leak urine, poop)
Worrying excessively when separated from parents
Fear and worry, thinking and talking about their own health and the health of loved ones
Changes in eating patterns
Difficulty maintaining attention and concentrating
Difficulty falling asleep, waking up late
easy fatigue
Worrying that something bad will happen in daily life
Difficulty performing games and daily activities,
Unwillingness
Unexplained headache or body pain
Irritability, behavioral problems in teens
Worsening of chronic health problems
In the presence of the above symptoms, your child may be experiencing an anxiety problem. It is recommended that you develop an approach described below.
The way to be followed when your child has a “fear-anxiety” problem
Take time to talk to your child in the presence of the above symptoms.
Talk about these fears.
Talk to your child about accurate information about the illness – this can help reduce anxiety (by replacing misinformation that causes them anxiety).
Guiding children on what they can do to prevent disease gives them a greater sense of control over the spread of disease and helps reduce their anxiety.
Reduce television viewing or limit access to information on the Internet and social media. Prevent your children from watching and listening to information that may be offensive to them.
Make sure your child is safe. Listen to them when they feel sad. Share with them how you deal with your own stress so they can learn how to cope from you. Remind him of previous events he has coped with, his way of coping, his skill, his strength.
The question of when parents seek counseling is also important. If these emerging mental or behavioral problems occur most of the day, interfere with the child’s activities such as games, lessons, or affect their social relationships, seek counseling.
Maintain current treatment of children and adolescents with pre-existing mental illness. For children with mental problems, be aware of new or worsening symptoms in this process, notice them and share them with your doctor.
If your child is starting to experience anxiety, fear, obsession, panic attacks or depressive symptoms due to the coronavirus or for any other reason, a therapist will be the next step to help you and/or your child cope with these issues in a healthy way.
Especially in cases where face-to-face meeting is not possible or appropriate, telepsychiatry applications, which have been used for many years, can be applied as an effective and evidence-based option. The telepsychiatry practice, which has been used for people who cannot reach a psychiatrist due to long distance and physical discomfort, has started to be applied by some hospitals and private physicians with the epidemic. Find out about telepsychiatry practice by contacting your own psychiatrist.
How can we protect our mental health? Approaches to reduce the psychological effects of parents in their daily lives for themselves and their children
Family support acts as a buffer for all mental complaints and problems. This parental support means that children with good care are more sheltered and resilient in terms of psychological effects from stressful life events. For this reason, it seems vital that parents provide the spiritual support their children need, apart from taking care of themselves and their life routines, during the Coronavirus epidemic. In this process, where life continues together and without going out, the mental well-being of children will actually ease the responsibilities and daily life burdens of parents. Otherwise, a child who is anxious, sad, fearful, angry, and unable to adapt will make it difficult to establish a healthy balance-adaptation in the closed home environment. Below are suggestions that can prevent negative mental effects for parents and their children during the epidemic period.
Have a routine-normal daily life as much as possible.
Limit television viewing or limit access to information on the internet and social media.
Take a break; Take breaks to watch, read or listen to the news, including on social media.
Provide your child with realistic information about the illness – this can help reduce anxiety.
Connect with friends and family (extended family members).
Try to keep up with regular routines. If schools are closed, create a schedule for learning activities and relaxing or fun activities.
Practice learning new games with younger children. (enactment, imitation games, making up fairy tales, creating games, etc.). Do hands-on activities like puzzles, painting, drawing.
Practice handwriting and grammar by writing letters to family members. This is one of the best ways to reduce close contact.
Help your child write cards or letters to family members they can’t visit.
Help your child reach friends and family members via phone or video chat.
While you connect with others, allow your child to connect with their friends and continue their social relations and sharing. (Talk to people you trust about your concerns and how you’re feeling, and create opportunities for your child, if any, to talk to family and friends.)
Take care of your own and your child’s physical health; Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep. Take a walk or bike ride with your child. Try to do other activities that you enjoy.
