All is not lost.. Let us reshape our approach to life and society

My friend has been in the IT industry for the last 10 years. While talking to him I realized just a few days into the lockdown in India. I quickly assessed the situation as I realized how stressed he is. Despite living in the same city, the lockdown was very depressing for him and the family. I could imagine how it would be for people who have been living alone, far away from their homes and families.

 The realization was backed by the pictures floating around in the news and social media, the pandemic was not only causing physical suffering for people but also a significant part of the population was put in mental distress. Confined to the residential units with zero in-person social contact and being locked up for days together has been causing major emotional stress on everyone's wellbeing. This required professional approach and support both to cope up with this never before situation.

I discussed this in my family and my father suggested that we start online Yoga and meditation sessions online. These guided meditation sessions were designed to help everyone who wanted to deal with anxiety and isolation. 

Soon enough the word around about the free meditation classes. To promote these we used social media platforms and a lot of positive responses from friends of friends started pouring in. Slowly the word reached the employer also. Who in turn started a forum to discuss and mitigate these problems by asking to opt for opening up in the common forum or one to one basis. The higher management also took notice of the best practice and gave the Team leaders and manager free hand to plan in between Yoga sessions, fun sittings and invited family members online to join.

In her efforts to support people who needed help, Anandmai changed her work timings and stretched her working hours. She decided to focus on tackling the fears and other emotional triggers when people are made to stay at home without any social connect.

We focus on a few simple tips and methods to calm down the anxiety levels of people. Over the last few weeks, we have been able to counsel more than the personal groups across the globe, including over 300 IBMers. 

My objective of sharing this is to make us realize that the social connects are equally important in times other than a pandemic. The gravity of the situation was not visible until the 3rd or  4th session when people started opening up. 

Now we are really enjoying the contribution these sessions have made and the difference is more expressed now. In the meantime, the good news is that a few participants have started their own groups with their smaller circle and kins. We just hope that this approach of understanding and leniency shall go on and on also then when there is no visible stress is there.

As stress and depression are more like an undercurrent that could overflow and carry away a person beyond the control