Mental Health: A Safety Tool against COVID# 19.

Byline: Sidra Naz

Corona Virus which is a universal epidemic which is spreading day by day. The thing which is boosting its spread is the way people are perceiving and reacting. Before it affects physical health, it is affecting the mental health of people while leaving them in a dilemma of what to do and how to do. Factors associated with the perception of this epidemic are individual's age, gender and social environment.

A child is inclined to perceive it as threat, an adolescent or adult is inclined to take it as a challenge or rumors spreading around and old aged person may take it in some spiritual ways. But one thing which is common between Virus and environment is element of universality, Covid#19 is universal and so as the media exposure to every part of the world, no matter what age or gender it is.

Whatever information comes through media, it is perceived differently from individuals. Some may get panic and other may not. Some react out of no way and others may take time to think about validity of information and how to respond as well.

These two modules are closely linked to spread of this epidemic, but one is in favor and other is against of it. There exist a short journey of having a clear understanding about how and why things happens and what consequences do we have as result of our behaviors. We receive information through our senses but sight and hearing are most frequently used.

What we see or hear, we perceive it either negative or positive and give meaning to stimuli on basis of perception.

That meaning is strongly effective for mental health that a negative perception and meaning leaves individual in a Panic situation with lots of anxiety and stress. In state of stress, focused is narrowed as mind is busy giving attention to a particular situation while ignoring the rest of the picture. In state of anxiousness hormones which are released "Adrenaline, Norepinephrine and Cortisol" these three boost stress level in body and individual may go through physiological changes. Following are the physiological disturbance stemming out of stress and anxiety:

* Palpitation

* Shortness of breath

* Sweating

* Muscles tension

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