the public to see the information correctly and prevent the more anxious they look.
Official channels are the most reliable, and the frequency of attention should be reasonable.
Self-protection needs to be done, regular life to prevent diseases and illnesses.
Take the initiative to communicate with others, and seek medical help for psychological discomfort.
–Niu Wenyi, Professor, School of Public Health, Peking University School of Medicine
After the outbreak of the new coronavirus pneumonia, people are anxious as the number of confirmed cases continues to grow. However, anxiety beyond the normal limits at this time is not beneficial but can affect health. Therefore, how to face the epidemic and make the right psychological adjustment is also a key concern for the general public.
1. Properly face the epidemic information to prevent “the more you look, the more anxiety”
(1) Learn about the epidemic from formal channels
It is recommended that individuals pay attention to information released by authoritative institutions or platforms such as the official website of the National Health Commission, Health China, People’s Daily, Xinhua News Agency, CCTV News, etc. to avoid causing fear. The frequent official release of disease information is to strengthen the public’s attention to the disease, and the actual severity of the epidemic will not be aggravated by the frequency of reports, so there is no need to be overly panicked.
(2) Reasonable attention to information based on personal circumstances
When faced with novel coronavirus pneumonia, lay people should not pay excessive attention to professional data such as morbidity, mortality, and cure rates to avoid anxiety and fear due to hearsay; instead, they should take protective measures that are appropriate to their situation according to the advice of professional organizations and professionals. At the same time, try to control the amount of time you spend on receiving information for no more than one hour a day, and do not pay too much attention to relevant information before going to bed.
2. Maintain physical and mental health to effectively fight against diseases
(1) Ensure regular work and rest
During holidays, you should work and rest regularly, avoid staying up late, and exercise moderately to ensure the stability of your body and mind. Because the stability of body and mind is the basis of everything.
(2) Do self-protection
Self-protection should be scientific and moderate. Make sure you wear a mask, wash your hands and ventilate regularly, and avoid going to places where people gather. If you have symptoms such as fever or dry cough, it is important to distinguish between other symptoms and novel coronavirus pneumonia so that you do not increase your risk of contracting novel coronavirus pneumonia by seeking medical attention for a common cold.
(3) Adjustment to improve sleep
Some people may suffer from insomnia due to physical or psychological stress caused by the epidemic. You can improve your sleep by reducing the level of physical and mental anxiety through deep breathing, meditation, and positive thinking training. In addition, be careful not to play with your cell phone before going to bed and check the news related to the epidemic excessively to avoid affecting the quality of sleep.
(4) Plan your life wisely
To cope with the self-isolation of the incubation period, various organizations have launched many activities, such as exercise and fitness courses, online reading groups, and introductory painting and photography, etc. Using this time to develop new hobbies can also effectively relieve anxiety and tension.
3. Enhance communication with the outside world and work together to cope with psychological discomfort
(1) Take the initiative to interact with others
During an epidemic, people often feel isolated and helpless. You can greet, encourage and communicate with friends online to enhance mutual psychological support, but it is not advisable to discuss too much negative information related to the epidemic.
(2) Seek help from psychological professionals
Several organizations have opened psychological counseling hotlines and online support services for the outbreak. If you experience stress disorders such as fear, stress, or anxiety due to novel coronavirus pneumonia, you can seek psychological assistance from psychiatric professionals.
Reviewer.
Li Anning, Associate Chief Physician, Department of Psychiatry, Beijing An Ding Hospital, Capital Medical University
Social function.
Deputy Director, Department of Psychiatry, Capital Medical University
Vice Chairman of the Second Youth Committee of the Beijing Medical Association Psychiatry Branch
Young member of the Third Youth Committee of the Chinese Society of Pharmacology, Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Research Committee
Supervised by
Chinese Medical Association, Branch of Science Popularization
Chinese Physicians Association
Reference Materials.
1. The Sixth Hospital of Peking University, “What should I do as a general public to deal with the epidemic?
2. The Sixth Hospital of Peking University, Beijing, China: “Sleeping is the key to boosting immunity and preventing the epidemic”.
3. Sichuan Provincial Psychiatric Center and Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, “Psychological self-help manual on “Pneumonia caused by novel coronavirus infection” (for the general public)
4. People’s Daily Online “In the shadow of the epidemic, you need this psychological support manual”.