Skip to main content

Learning to become thoughtless during Lockdown to stay mentally fit & healthy

Over a month at home, locked down with limited social interaction only in virtual world is taking a toll on mental health of many people. Though mental well-being is often ignored as just sensitivity, it is difficult to ignore it during the lockdown.
According to a study conducted by Sheffield University, the day after the lockdown was announced 38 per cent of the study’s participants reported significant depression whilst 36 per cent reported significant anxiety.
Another survey, which was conducted around the end of March by Ipsos Mori found that 1 in 5 people are concerned about isolation, including not being able to go out in general, being in isolation for a long time, and the impact this will have on long-term mental health.
Instead of desperately seeking social engagements by breaking the rules of lockdown, some smart Indoreans have decided to work on their inner well-being. Their campaign says ‘Can’t go out? Let’s go inside ourselves’.
Joined in by over 100 families of Sahaj Yoga in Indore, people from different age-groups are now spending time practising meditation. About 2 lakh individuals from all over country have joined this movement.
Other than this, Jain community and Christian community is also organising spiritual sessions and prayers to help people cope with lockdown.
Some families in Indore shared their experience and quoted the importance of working on mental well-being:

Pray to find faith
“Lockdown has taken a toll on mental health of many people especially youngsters, who are full of energy,” Bishop Chacko said. In his efforts to help people in calming down, he joined in worldwide prayers online and guided people on finding themselves during the lockdown.
“Prayer is the easiest way to have faith and let go off your worries,” Chacko said.

Fight the phobia
“The phobia of isolation, of future and the unknown possibilities can take over us during the lockdown period,” Ankit Dhuliya, 24-year-old insurance advisor, said. Like many people, the family also finds the lockdown phase difficult but is now fighting the phobia with meditation.
“We meditate in morning and evening, and during this time, we let go off all our fears becoming peaceful,” Ankit said.

Changing thought process
“Meditation awakens the power of Kundalini, the inner energy present in every individual and connects us with the collective consciousness, the pervading power of Divine love,” businessman Somanth Yadav said. Changing their thought process from isolation and limitation to growth and possibilities, his family is fighting the depressive element of lockdown with meditation.

Become thoughtless
“We cannot win if we keep taking the sword and seeking revenge, thus is our problem in lockdown,” homemaker Preeti Agrawal said. She explained that it is normal for people to feel worried about coronavirus, but if we keep thinking, reading and researching the same, it is bound to take over our mental health.
“The best way to deal with lockdown is to take out some time and become thoughtless, which is possible through simple meditation,” Preeti said. To maintain peace in her family, she ensures this thoughtless time for everyone twice a day for an hour each.

Faith is the way
“When we have complete faith in something or someone without any questions or doubts, then we are full of positivity,” homemaker Rekha Joshi said. She explained that during lockdown, we can only seek faith, because predicting what happens next will only make us more anxious.
“Faith also needs commitment and practise, it can be through rituals or meditations,” Joshi said.

Online spiritual sessions
Jain community, where most people are accustomed to visiting Jain temple regularly, are now stuck at home. Helping them find an outlet for spiritual growth and education, community heads Pawan Anita Badjatya and Narendra Vandana Jain are holding online sessions.
“Spirituality is our inner strength with the help of which, we can counter the biggest obstacles,” heads said.

Stay cool with meditation
“We lose temper, when we are not stable inside and lacking control,” Satish Singh, 24-year-old data processing officer, said. Dealing with anxiety and fear, he learned meditation at a local centre.
“During lockdown, we are getting live guided meditation, which helped me in staying calm and balanced despite the havoc around,” Satish said. He convinced his family to join in the initiative, which helped his father calm down.
“Anger can really destroy a family and it is easy to lose our temper during lockdown,” Satish said.


Popular posts from this blog

Jharneshwar Mahadev in Madhya Pradesh: a nature escape from urban jungle

Life is too short, unpredictable and an adventure if lived to the fullest. Learning the essential value of life and deciding to seek adventures in life, several groups are now connecting to nature and seeking spiritual growth. Leading a group of adventure seekers to less-known wonders of Indore, Gyandeep Srivastava, administrator of Rides of Riders group unravelled a new getaway. The group went on a long ride exploring the rural areas of the city. In their bid to seek adventure, the group came across an ancient temple ‘Jharneshwar Mahadev’ which dazzles visitors with nature, beauty and wonder. The temple is situated in Shajapur, about 230 kilometres from Indore. The waterfall of Bhadooh (Jharneshwar Mahadev), a famous tourist place falling under the Quartak Panchayat, about 30 km from Manasa in Neemuch district. After monsoons, the waterfall attracts tourists from all over state to witness the 100 feet high waterfall. There were 25 riders in the adventure trip including female rider I...

Before Pentecost, Christian community helps underprivileged families with ration

Prior to Pentecost, Christian community is following the lessons taught by Jesus Christ and helping those in need. In their drive to help underprivileged families, Christian volunteers forming a group are providing ration packets to them. Christian holiday of Pentecost, which is celebrated the 49th day (the seventh Sunday) after Easter Sunday, will be celebrated on May 31 this year. The holiday commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ. Under the drive, ration packets are given to 200 to 250 people on a regular basis. “Christ was the ultimate social worker. Not only could he find housing for people, or give them free food,” Ashutosh Joseph, a volunteer said. He cited that in the Bible, God's call to His followers to care for other human beings is clear (Philippians 2:4; 1 John 3:17-18; Proverbs 19:17 New International Version). “In fact, Jesus states that one of the most important commandments is ‘love your neighbour...

What are the precautions for prevention of corona virus? Special instructions for School Students

School Education Department issued an advisory to all the school heads and officers regarding precautions to be taken against the deadly novel coronavirus to prevent the spread of infection among school children. The advisory was sent out at the direction of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India with a photocopy of the letter attached. The department in its advisory stated that the world is fighting against the rapid spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). In India, too, the number of cases identified has increased in the last few days. As the school going children are also susceptible to infection and this is a crucial time for children given the end of the academic year and examination, it calls for immediate measures minimizing the effects of the epidemic. In the advisory, the department advised the schools to avoid any large gatherings of students during the course of the day in school. Any student or staff with travel history to any COVID-19 affected countr...