Many people are concerned with new infectious diseases like the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). This is appropriate given the extraordinary circumstances. If a disease progresses quickly and appears more often in a given area, it affects more than just physical wellbeing. It may also be overwhelming on a personal level.
When word of COVID-19 expands, more people are curious what it entails in their everyday lives. An infectious illness is a problem for all, both individuals and culture as a whole, and it necessitates cooperative, cautious, and helpful conduct.
Novel viruses cause anxiety and confusion. An outbreak is a rapidly evolving condition that is always fraught with confusion, especially in the early stages. Coronaviruses, for example, are invisible to the naked eye and have no discernible odor. Our sensory organs are incapable of grasping them. Only medical data and the illness they carry with them will identify them.
As a result, pathogens are seen by many as an elusive "invisible threat" against which one can only partly defend oneself. Exclusion of those who are currently or allegedly carriers of illness is often done out of a sense of fear. Concern about one's own wellbeing and the health of one's family and friends can lead to feelings of vulnerability and anxiety, as well as feelings of helplessness and even lack of power. These feelings and responses are perfectly natural. In the case of quarantine, there are legal requirements.
The responsible authorities, such as the health authority, can, for example, order people not to leave or access certain areas before the appropriate security steps have been taken. Quarantine is one of the more invasive actions allowed. It's used to keep the outbreak from spreading further.
Domestic quarantine is both a security mechanism and a stressful circumstance. It may, though, be a burden since it effectively removes potentially sick people from social life.
Significant social services, such as those provided by work or family life, are depleted. When the quarantine is extended, people's minds turn to the illness, its symptoms, and their physical condition. As a result, it is important to priorities the maintenance of one's own mental health.
Suggestions for Home Quarantine
- Keep in mind that in quarantine, preventive hygiene measures such as cough and sneezing labels are also needed, especially if you have more than one person in your household.
- You can find yourself with an extraordinary amount of free time when you are unable to go to work or engage in your normal recreational activities. Have a regular schedule and set targets for yourself.
- In the conditions, the goals should be practical. Consider what you should do to pass the time. Experiment with various activities such as reading, journaling, and so on.
- Keep in contact with families and friends, for example, through phone calls and social media.
- Enlist the help of relatives or neighbors to go shopping to get medicine for you. Support is frequently provided by health boards.
- If you have a puppy, ask friends or neighbors to take it for a stroll during the quarantine period.
- If you are sad, get care and assistance as soon as possible. This is something that the family or any social environment will help you with.
- Be physically active: Sports can also be performed in a small room, such as chair or floor workouts. On the Internet, there are several tips and advice. Keep the mind busy by reading, writing, playing (thinking) sports, and so on.
- If you're feeling tense, try those relaxing exercises. There are also simple relaxing methods for new people (e.g. incremental muscle relaxation). On the Internet, there are several tips and recommendations.
- Acknowledge the emotions: Being placed in an involuntary home quarantine can cause a variety of emotions. There are typical responses to an unusual situation.
- Be skeptical: there is a lot of false knowledge out there. Check with reputable websites, such as the Robert Koch Institute's website (www.rki.de). Data is also available from the Federal Ministry of Health, state ministries, and health authorities. Your family doctor is, of course, an important point of contact.
- Make media consumption more conscious of this problem. Set aside specific hours to look for new news and facts, for example.
- Have a good outlook and align yourself with beliefs that support you (e.g. family, social network, faith).
