Stay healthy, destress and don't panic, say mental health professionals
Stay healthy, destress and don't panic, say mental health professionalsTHOSE who've managed to retain their jobs are feeling the heat more than the men with the pink slip, say city psychiatrists. "I have recession survivors coming in everyday. In fact I have more jobholders coming in than the ones without jobs," says Dr Rajendra Barve, MD, psychiatry and consultant HRD trainer, "These are the people who feel the sword on the head constantly because of perhaps an office next door closing down, coffee counter chat and guilt that they've managed to retain their jobs." The demographics suggest men between the age of 25 and 35 working at BPOs are the ones who are most hit.
The inability to take even a short break in these times is also adding to the stress, says Dru00a0 Y A Matcheswalla, MD, psychiatry, chairman, speciality section (forensic psychiatry) of the Indian Psychiatric Association. "One person is doing the job of two or three people and tell me that he can't afford to take even a day off when I suggest a week's rest," he says. Most patients also don't want to be prescribed drugs that could make them even slightly drowsy. "They say, 'Doctor we have to be more alert at work. We can't afford to make any mistakes'."
Employees who have been asked to improve their work performance have also started turning to counselling. A report prepared by Dr Anand Nadkarni at the Institute of Psychological Health (IPH) suggests how survivors face several issues even as they remain employed u00e2u0080u0094 anger against the management, confusion because the work situation has altered, shock, and depression due to the inability to handle sudden work load. The report suggests that employers communicate with the employees to rebuild loyalty, discuss company's growth prospects and not expect the employees to feel grateful for having retained their jobs.
Most survivors who come in complain of hypertension, headaches and fatigue, according to Dr Barve. "We scratch the surface and find other issues such as depression, sexual dysfunction, insomnia, not addiction but use-abuse-and misuse of drugs," says Dr Matcheswalla, who recommends a combination of psychotherapy, phramacoptherapy, counselling and lifestyle improvement changes. The changes can be as small as eating healthy, sleeping well, staying calm and finding time to stay physically active. "We find ways to fit some sort of physical exercise within the employee's workframe," says Dr Matcheswalla, who has set up a 24-hour helpline (64507171) at Masina Hospital, which is being manned by a trained psychologist and a junior psychiatrist. Dr Barve recommends yoga especially pranayaam and spending quality time with family. "It's important to remember that this is a passing phase and be ready to deal with a lay-off even if it comes your way. Planning will help people at this stage," he adds.
