Telegram.hr spoke with psychologists from the Department of Psychology of the Faculty of Philosophy in Zagreb about the psychological aspect of everything that is currently happening to us in connection with the corona virus. Gordana Kuterovac Jagodić is the head of the Department, and Nataša Jokić-Begić is a professor at the Department of Health and Clinical Psychology. The key common denominator of the conversation with them is: mental health is just as important as physical health and should be taken care of as much as the prevention of virus infection. In other words, taking care of our mental health must be equal to keeping our hands clean.
A sense of global anxiety
The conversation was opened with a simple question - what is actually happening to us. "As humanity, we are facing a situation that is potentially dangerous, and I emphasize, potentially. She is also unpredictable, we don't know much about her and we are actually afraid of our own ignorance," said Jokić-Begić. It is, he says, a natural, biologically built-in feeling of fear of the unknown. Since the appearance of the virus in China, we have been living in anxiety, tension and a kind of feeling of global anxiety, he explains; We used the internet, like a magnifying glass, to follow what was happening and expected the virus in our own backyard.
Now, when we are faced with an epidemic, our usual ways of behaving and coping are being tested and are often not enough. It is necessary, emotionally and in all other ways, to adapt to the new situation, which, as Professor Kuterovac Jagodić points out, is difficult, tiring and requires our additional resources. "That's why we are actually more vulnerable than usual", he warns and points out that this situation can also lead to our strengthening, personal development and broadening of horizons - we will see how flexible we are, how interesting some other things are to us, how strong and capable we are of coping and with difficult situations…
Professor Jokić-Begić systematically pointed out six points that could serve as a kind of manual for the unusual days ahead.
1. Reduce your news consumption to twice a day
He emphasizes that it is necessary to follow the news, but it is important not to get information on social networks. "People expect to find something on social media that hasn't been said or is hidden in the news. No, it is necessary to get information through traditional media. It should also be said that news should be consumed twice a day, therefore, do not expose yourself to it too often and introduce it as a rule such as washing your hands for 30 seconds", he explains for Telegram.
2. Make sure you have a clear structure for the day
It is extremely important to have a clear daily routine. This currently applies to children, the elderly and anyone who is in self-isolation, but the daily routine will be important for everyone. "It is necessary to create a predictable microworld, for example, at 7:30 I get out of bed, at 8 I have breakfast, at 8:30 I drink coffee, at 9 I will listen to the news, and after that I will read a book until then and then. This achieves a clear structure of the day," says the professor.
3. Turn your attention away from listening to your body
It is necessary to divert attention and force the conversation about other topics and not talk only about the coronavirus. "When our inner eye is turned exclusively towards ourselves, anxious sensitivity occurs, that is, we become (over)sensitive to our own bodily sensations. In such a situation, we suddenly perceive miracles in our body", he explains and adds that it has been proven that in this way the body temperature can psychogenically rise up to 37.1 degrees. "If you do that, take two hours and calm down by doing something else, transplant plants, cook, clean and then pay attention to how you feel," advises the psychologist from Filozofski.
4. Now your social network and connection with the environment is important
In coping with this new situation for all of us, our social network, connecting with our environment, is extremely important. This is where, says Jokić-Begić, social networks and applications for connection come into play; in this sense they are precious. "At the same time, it is important not to talk non-stop about the coronavirus. The houses are now overflowing with flour, eggs; you can exchange recipes, share what someone is cooking, how it turned out... These are actually support groups," he explains.
He adds that now, more than ever, it is important to realize that we are surrounded by dear older people; we need to tell them how much we love them, what they mean to us, that we think of them. "Simply, we need to tell them that they are important in our lives. It will improve their quality of life much more," says the professor.
5. Be optimistic
In this small but important psychological manual, Jokić-Begić also emphasizes the importance of optimism. Research shows, he claims, that optimism and laughter boost the immune system. "Laughter and wit are as important as maintaining hygiene. If you have a hard time with optimism, proceed in order according to the previous points 1, 2, 3 and 4", he points out.
6. It would be good to explain everything to the kids in a 'heroic' way
It is extremely important to tell children what is happening in a way that is suitable for them. "Staying at home would be good to show them in a, let's call it, heroic way. For example, telling them that as knights they stay at home because that's how they make an invisible and powerful shield to protect their grandparents. This gives children the impression that they are important and powerful even when they are at home," concludes Jokić-Begić, noting that parents should remain calm.
Distance school also provides a kind of normalization to the family
At the same time, the children are in distance learning mode, some via television, some online, and that, Professor Kuterovac Jagodić points out, is very important now. "Even a distance school like this is extremely important to them. It is the most important activity for children and it gives the family a kind of normalization", he emphasizes. However, he believes, these events will not significantly affect children because they are used to online communication. If they lose something from school, says the teacher, they will be able to make up for a lot.
However, the challenges posed by this pandemic depend significantly on what stage of life we are in. Primarily, biologically we are not equally vulnerable; as we already know, the most vulnerable are the elderly, and the least vulnerable are children, the professor reminds. Looking psychologically, there is a kind of inversion. Namely, Kuterovac Jagodić says that historically normative experiences like the one we are witnessing now (experiences experienced only by people who lived in an era when something significant happened), usually have the strongest effect on people in adolescence and young adulthood.
Health-impaired, but 'psychologically vaccinated'
"These are people who need to make some important life decisions and who have important experiences. For example, high school graduates will worry about passing their high school diploma when they don't attend classes regularly, young people now have to cancel or move their weddings, they may delay having children until the situation calms down, or pregnant women will be more worried than usual about carrying their pregnancy.
Elderly people, says the professor of developmental psychology, can be anxious because their health is more vulnerable. "At the same time, their wisdom and experience make them calmer and stronger because they are 'psychologically vaccinated' by exposure to earlier negative experiences," he adds. People in middle adulthood, especially parents with younger children and their elderly parents, will be under the greatest stress, predicts Kuterovac Jagodić.
What awaits us, psychologically, when all this is over?
From the collective feeling that the world is a dangerous place to the economic consequences that will more seriously lead to an increase in cases of depression and anxiety disorders, psychologist Jokić-Begić expects some form of resetting of social values, the ones we live by now. "We see how universal human values are now in the foreground, turning towards one's own. In the short term, I certainly expect an increase in solidarity, mutual connection and less emphasis on material values", he predicts.
Kuterovac Jagodić, on the other hand, explains in more detail how in this crisis situation humanity can learn a lot and profit in the long term. He says, there are pro-social behaviors such as organizing help for the elderly, help from Chinese doctors to Italy, various help initiatives - from material to instrumental and psychological - that are offered on a voluntary basis. "This kind of universal common enemy, like a disease to which no one is immune, regardless of status, origin, money and so on, homogenizes the community and it unites in the fight against it. In addition, it seems to me that self-isolation and calming down actually help us slow down this super-fast pace of life and understand the true hierarchy of values in life," says the head of the Department of Psychology at the Faculty of Philosophy in Zagreb. Jokić-Begić concludes on that note: "Every crisis is also an opportunity, we should also keep that in mind."
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