Dr Lenin disapproves popping pills to curb Covid anxiety
Source: Chronicle News Service / Sonia Sorensangbam
Imphal, July 08 2021:
Observing that women are more prone to develop anxiety due to Covid-19 infection, RIMS psychiatry department head Dr RK Lenin has advised people suffering from this condition to refrain from taking sleeping pills without a doctor's prescription.
Speaking to The People's Chronicle in this regard, Dr Lenin noted that mental health issues have increased during the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic and many of the Covid infected people develop varying level of anxiety.
At least one or two members of a family are susceptible to this mental health condition in this crisis period.
This condition will persist even after the pandemic is over, he cautioned while urging people suffering from this condition to get treatment right away without waiting for the pandemic to get over.
People often take sleeping pills bought from pharmacy to suppress the condition.
Though it may provide temporary relief for a couple of days, it will not resolve the condition.
Anxiety is curable and the best treatment for it is to consult a psychologist, he said.
As per his observation, middle aged women are more susceptible to Covid related anxiety and it occurs mostly in the age group of 20 to 60 years.
The most common complaint is unable to sleep.
People suffer from this mental condition when a family member is infected and people often get panic on thinking how they will handle the situation and what would happen to them.
Medication and exercise could help to a great extent in such conditions and consulting a psychologist doctor would be the best option, he said.
Informing that suffering from anxiety weakens a person, prevents from doing his/her normal duties, makes one's life miserable and reduces the quality of life, Dr Lenin said that the condition might occur before, during or after Covid infection to any individual with weak mental health.
Post Covid anxiety occurs when the recovering patients experience fatigue and insomnia.
Consulting a psychologist can improve their conditions within a few days and one can consult psychologists by calling on state helpline number 104 or RIMS helpline number 6033856081 (9 am to 3 pm), Dr Lenin added.