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Stigma Around Covid + Physical & Mental Health

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STIGMA AROUND COVID   REACH OUT! Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Be connected to your friends and family, seek their support if you need it. Be open to talk about anything with them. If you find yourself in a situation where you need more support then reach out…

STIGMA AROUND COVID   REACH OUT! Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Be connected to your friends and family, seek their support if you need it. Be open to talk about anything with them. If you find yourself in a situation where you need more support then reach out to a mental health provider, talking groups, and find a space where you can put your feelings forward.  From online psychosocial support to mental health services, APSWP has formed a list of experienced mental health professionals from all across the country. In addition to clearing misconceptions about COVID-19 to helping people navigate through self-isolation, these experts are also providing specialized help in various mental health issues. You can access the contact details of the professionals here. This article might also be helpful, Visit Here.                         STIGMA AROUND COVID A major challenge around infectious diseases like HIV, Ebola, Swine flu, has been dealing with the deep-seated stigma around affected populations. As the covid-19 turned into a pandemic people were understandably frightened and concerned. Anxiety caused by lockdowns, many unknowns around COVID-19, and fear of being infected has given rise to stigma in local communities, leading to prejudices against people and social isolation.
  • Cases have been reported of people affected with COVID-19 as well as healthcare workers, sanitary workers and police who are in the frontline for management of the outbreak, facing discrimination on account of heightened fear and misinformation about infection. 
  • Even those who have recovered from COVID-19 face such discrimination.
  • Certain communities and areas are being labeled purely based on false reports floating on social media
People need to understand that COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease that spreads fast and can infect any one of us, we can protect ourselves through social distancing, washing our hands regularly and following coughing etiquettes.   The important thing is that the disease is curable and most people will recover from it. Remember, Doori COVID se banaye, Jisko COVID tha hai usse nahi :)   HOW CAN STIGMA AFFECT? The anxiety and concern of being discriminated against covid can lead to:
  • People worrying about being shunned and less likely to get tested or seek medical care, increasing infection risks for them and others.
  • This undermines efforts to test for and treat disease.
  • Discourage them from adopting healthy behaviors
  • It can make people feel isolated and even abandoned. This can result in the social isolation of groups of people in fear of getting covid.
  • Stigmatized groups may often be deprived of the resources they need to care for themselves and their families during a pandemic.
All of these factors have a negative impact on the mental well-being of anyone. They may feel depressed, hurt and angry. There is an urgent need to counter such prejudices and rise as a community that is empowered with health literacy and responds appropriately to this adversity. To fight stigma, educate yourself and people around you about covid. It helps dispel harmful stereotypes.
  • Keep your facts in check from reputable sources
  • Don’t forward any messages on social media before checking the authenticity
  • Speak up and correct people if they are misinformed 
  • Show support for the frontline workers and help them whenever possible
  • Share positive stories of those who have recovered from COVID-19.
Remember, everyone is in this together. The COVID-19 pandemic will be over sooner if fears and rumors are replaced by facts, proper action and a show of support for one another. This will not only make your environment positive but will also make your mental health strong. Mental Well-being + Physical Well-being = The Best Of You! But, focusing on mental well-being alone isn’t enough. What we need is a holistic approach, and this is where physical well-being comes into play. Exercising is one of the best ways to combat stress & anxiety. The benefits are strongest when you exercise regularly. People who exercise regularly are less likely to experience anxiety than those who don’t exercise. But first, let me make an excuse More often than not, we get super creative with our excuses to not exercise: “It’s 7:01! Ugh, will definitely begin at 8.” (Of course we know that’s not gonna happen!) “My mom’s sister’s husband’s sister lost her phone today, I must console her.” (How about consoling your future self?) “Let me just watch this one last episode!” (Are you sure “last episode” is a thing for you?) It’s time to ‘binge on’ physical fitness now! Enter: Fitness Apps! To put your fitness motivation on turbo-boost, you can go for apps like Strava, Cult.fit, Fitify among others. What’s even better, is to tag your friends along your fitness journey and make it more fun!  The best part about it all? You can choose your type of exercise- dance to your favourite tunes, go all in on push-ups, or walk- it’s all up to you.  The idea is to Burn Calories!!  And the benefits of exercising are just amazing! Stress hormones: Exercise lowers your body’s stress hormones — such as cortisol — in the long run. It also helps release endorphins, which are chemicals that improve your mood and act as natural painkillers. Sleep: Exercise can also improve your sleep quality, which can be negatively affected by stress and anxiety. Confidence: While hair flipping counts as a major confidence activity, it’s not the only one. When you exercise regularly, you may feel more competent and confident in your body, which in turn promotes mental wellbeing. Strengthens Heart: If your heart is weak from listening to Arijit Singh’s songs and missing your ex, you must definitely exercise. Go ahead and flex a healthy heart, the strongest muscle in your body! Chasing this idea, few #ARManions have also started a fitness revolution of sorts, and guess what, this turned out to be a one of a kind fitness movement where from a ‘few’ it has gone to almost the entire organization! ARManions are making sure that a minimum 30 mins of workout becomes a part of their daily routine. Not only, it is helping in staying fit, but is bringing the entire organisation together as people are motivating each other to go for that one last rep! ;) When Hobby becomes a Habit! They say you can learn a skill in 21 days and which can turn it into a hobby and when a hobby becomes a habit, results are simply amazing! This month, three of our fellow Armanions stood shining (with sweat) and got rewarded for their incredible workout experiences. Kudos to Tapan KharbandaSakshi ChawlaKartik Pande - winners of this month for their consistency and discipline towards fitness!                     You guys truly are an inspiration to everyone!   Now who wouldn’t want to be a part of this awesome gang? We would love to welcome more members to join the initiative and there is only one mandate: EXERCISE So, time to burn some calories. Even if it's for a few minutes, make sure you do it with all your dedication. (Yes, with the same amount of dedication you put into binge-watching your fav. TV series) Stay home, stay healthy, stay happy and STAY TUNED for more updates
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