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It turns out that more than half of the Lithuanian population is worried that they will not return to normal life for a long time, according to a representative survey conducted by Spinter Research on behalf of SB Insurance. 48% fear that new varieties of COVID-19 are threatened. a third of those surveyed fear that travel restrictions will continue to exist during the warm season and they will not be able to go anywhere they want.
A similar proportion of compatriots fear the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine, and almost a quarter worry that they will have to be vaccinated against coronavirus strains regularly. As a result, older people: 46 years and older, respondents and representatives of higher education are more concerned, while women and representatives of the lowest income group are more afraid of the side effects of vaccines.
Then the future can foresee a freer one, but with a lot of uncertainty and doubt. According to Saulius Jokubaitis, head of the life insurance company SB Draudimas, it has been more than a year since the beginning of the first quarantine and all this time anxiety and stress are inseparable companions of many people.
“People had to limit social contacts, they were forced to work from home, stop traveling, and some lost not only a steady income or a beloved job, but also their loved ones. Therefore, it is not surprising that up to 6 in 10 respondents say that their anxiety rate has increased precisely because of the coronavirus pandemic: 15% complain of a significant increase in anxiety. The lowest income respondents of the Lithuanian population and most often say so, and 48 percent. Respondents say that due to the impact of the pandemic, their anxiety level has increased in part, ”says S. Jokubaitis.
The less financial security, the more anxiety
A Lithuanian Anxiety Index survey repeated six months later showed that one third of the country’s population feels anxious for their own well-being or that of their family on a daily or frequent basis, and this number is very similar to the state of mind of the individual. autumn period. . Nor is there a dramatic change between the factors that concern people the most. Most respondents are still intimidated by serious illness, inability to work, or death, say 4 in 10 respondents. There has been a slight increase in the number of people worried about permanent income loss or unemployment: 19% last year and 26% this year. And although it has dropped slightly, there is still a significant group of people concerned about family disasters, reaching 18% this year. of respondents (last year – 21%).
However, the biggest difference, according to S. Jokubaitis, were the most effective ways to protect yourself from negative consequences this time around.
“The pandemic has really brought a lot of uncertainty, the situation both in personal life and at work can change not in weeks, but in days or even hours. Perhaps this is why most people cite having a stable income as the best way to protect themselves from negative consequences. Even 75% think so. For comparison, in the autumn the number of the Lithuanian population reached 59 percent. and it was close to 55 percent. for those who believe that the best way to protect themselves is through additional savings for disasters or old age. By the way, 6 out of 10 respondents still believe that savings are a reliable way to feel safe in the event of a disaster, ”says the director of SB Insurance.
The impact of quarantine on mental state is enormous
Quarantine itself is a cause of anxiety and stress, because it limits already formed human social skills, convinced the psychiatrist, psychotherapist, associate professor at Vilnius University Eugenijus Laurinaitis.
“First of all, the quarantine limits direct contact, communication with important people, the celebration of family vacations according to long-standing traditions, travel and leisure habits. Let’s also not forget that there is a challenge in the uncertain situation with work, when many people have to work from home during quarantine: sometimes they doubt if they are working well enough, sometimes they work hard. This means that their stress and anxiety levels are increasing, ”says E. Laurinaitis.
He emphasizes that it is not surprising that even with the release of the quarantine, new fears arise about how to adapt to a change in life. By the way, the associate professor is convinced that we will not return to the rhythm of life that was normal before, we will have to learn to live with the coronavirus and it will take us several years.
“And the virus is targeting us, and we have to. At this point, it’s crucial to understand which of the quarantine-restricted and pandemic-affected areas need to be rebuilt and which ones need to be modified. I think human communication needs to be restored first. And This applies to all age groups, although the most affected are adolescents, for whom communication is the main tool to learn to become adults, and older people, who not only no longer have a usual work environment where they already they can meet people virtually, but also with relatives “, – emphasizes E.Laurinaitis, associate professor at Vilnius University.
Vaida Stankutė, a psychologist at the Anxiety Clinic, agrees that the pandemic is an exceptional situation that has seriously affected the mental health of many people. However, it is important to understand that feeling anxious is perfectly normal, and that this is how our body warns of potential or foreseeable danger.
“Anxiety is often expressed about fears about the future, such as if I will have a job, when the pandemic will end, when will the children return to school, when will I be able to visit parents safely, and so on. This is also shown in surveys and studies. Anxiety can also have a strong effect on sensations in the body, not just thoughts: increased heart rate and breathing, indigestion, dizziness, increased sweating, increased muscle tension, cold palpitations or waves of heat. In other words, anxiety mobilizes the body, prepares it for a possible threat ”, explains psychologist V. Stankutė.
The anxiety index is high, but the solution is there
According to a psychologist at the Anxiety Clinic, during a pandemic, the threat can be very vague and many things can seem out of control, making anxiety possible and becoming a permanent condition, or at least a significant increase.
“First and foremost is to recognize and name what worries me. Then you need to ask yourself what my anxiety is about, for example is it related to work, health or loved ones. Once we have identified the causes anxiety, we can consider what can be changed in that situation: what I control and what is not in my hands. In the first case, it is possible to take action, and in the second case, it only remains to stay “, says V. Stankut adds and adds that even in such situations we can help ourselves:
“We can calm ourselves in many ways and it is quite individual. Breathing exercises that do not require special conditions can also help: we can focus on the breath and calculate how much we inhale and exhale: the exhalation should be twice the inhalation, say 4 inhalations, 8 exhalations ”, says the psychologist.
During severe anxiety, you can use the Ramu app, where you will find a variety of exercises to help you calm down. Physical activity, talking, or one of your favorite activities can also help reduce anxiety.
