As Covid takes toll on everyday life, city residents turn to psychologists

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 1

Sample 1: A 68-year-old woman had to consult a psychologist. A socialite though, she is not allowed to step out of her house these days. There have no satsangs, kitty parties or club events in the past around four months. She is not permitted to go to a saloon. Morning yoga sessions and evening walks, too, are a big no for her. Even in house, she is not permitted to wash vegetables and is told that these could be carrying viruses. She is not allowed to read newspapers till the afternoon, which has always been her good pastime. Her favourite TV serials are off-screen as shootings are not happening. Having borne all this, she now feels that it is all getting over and above her resilience power and she ultimately lands up in a clinic for help.

Sample 2: An under teen’s mother takes him to a psychologist with a complaint that the child has stopped writing. Mother says that after a formal attendance on the online app that the school is conducting, the child switches off the video and goes away. This leaves the mother to attend the class, write all notes and complete his copies. When snubbed, the child throws a lot of tantrums. Being a single child and having no open space in the house or any friend to play with, the child does not even let his mother do household chores and tells her to sit with him and play all the time.

Sample 3: A Class XII pass-out, who got his visa for studying in a college in Canada, is not able to go at present. The college has started online classes but he is not happy as he had paid to study in a Canadian environment. His friends keep pestering him for not being able to go as Air India flights do not allow student visa holders to fly as of now. He was getting insomnia and anxiety disorder and finally moves for a professional help.

As the Covid-19 pandemic has started affecting minds and psychology of people of all age groups, many Jalandharites have begun making a beeline to clinics and hospitals to see psychologists, psychiatrists and healers.

Some psychologists shared that in the past few months, there had been witnessed a “tsunami of patients”, ranging from children to the elderly, at their clinics. They said the common problems being faced by residents were of the younger lot who have had issues related to jobs, fall in businesses, inability to go abroad, concentrate in studies and prepare for entrance examination.

Many residents visiting the psychologists are troubled by relationship-related problems. Children, who were abroad or in boarding schools and are now back, are finding it tough stay at home. Couples with good bonding for over 20 years are now thinking of separation as one of them has found someone to engage in extramarital affair. Housewives are feeling overburdened as maids are not allowed to come and their kitchen time has increased because children stay at home. The list of problem is endless and varies from case to case.

Speaking out 

The number of patients coming to me has increased manifolds and they are from all age groups. Uncertainty on how and when Covid spread will get contained is keeping them all anxious. Dr Manupriya Mehra, psychologist

Youngsters who have got laid off and are unable to find new avenues are turning up for help in large numbers. There have been a lot of problems with regard to relationships at home too. Pallavi Khanna, psychologist

We are doing sessions with people of all age groups. Financial constraints are a common issue with many families. I have been doing lectures on my YouTube channel to help people in stress. Dr Anjleen, mind healer

I have been handling calls of people in stress. I have also made short, comic videos on some common problems affecting mental health and shared these on social media for people to see and feel relieved. Amrit Kalsi, psychologist