Have you ever wondered what it means to be healthy?
Based on the holistic view of human existence, the concept of healthiness encompasses four main areas: mental, social, emotional and physical. These four factors influence how we think, feel and act.
Meanwhile, mental health refers to a disturbance of the mind that impairs the way we think, feel and act. In turn, it affects our daily activities and sometimes, even the lives of those around us. However, it’s important to note that good mental health isn’t equivalent to the absence of mental health issues, but the presence of positive characteristics – as coined by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH). Let’s start by discussing the symptoms of depression and anxiety, and COVID-19’s influence on our mental health!
What is depression?
Depression is the disorder of the mood, causing one to feel sad for a prolonged period. There is a big difference between normal sadness and clinical depression. For example, sadness is a regular human emotion caused by a situation. In contrast, the latter is an uncommon emotion that is often experienced without any triggers. Some general symptoms of depression include:
- Sense of hopelessness
- Unhelpful thought patterns
- Change in sleeping patterns
- Appetite changes
- A decrease in energy levels
- Feeling isolated and withdrawn
What is anxiety?
Humans have a fight-or-flight response to a perceived harmful attack. But when fear is imagined and the fight-or-flight instinct kicks in, then they might experience anxiety. Some symptoms of anxiety include:
- An increased heart rate that isn’t triggered by physical activity
- Tingling sensation in fingers and toes
- Feelings of breathlessness, tightness in the chest
- Consistently and actively searching for potential threats
How to know if I have depression or anxiety?
Symptoms vary according to individuals so you may not need to experience all these symptoms for depression or anxiety to be present. Also, there are different types of depression and anxiety, so various disorders carry different traits.
If you have experienced most of the symptoms concurrently, it’s hard to determine by yourself if you have it. Just like physical injuries that require checkups to determine the cause of injury, it’s necessary to have a psychiatrist’s diagnosis for mental health issues. If the issue has been persisting, you can opt to see a doctor online and talk to them about your concerns, before deciding if you need to go to visit the doctor physically for thorough examinations. Your healthcare provider will assess your condition and prescribe any treatment where needed.
What does COVID-19 have to do with my mental health?
According to gov.sg, it is completely normal to feel concerned, worried, anxious and even mildly depressed. With the constant stream of news surrounding the COVID-19 situation in Singapore, you might face some of the following symptoms.
In terms of mental wellbeing, you might feel constant forgetfulness and difficulties in focusing on your task at hand. Physically, you could feel fatigued, have low energy levels and unexplained aches. Last but not least, you might also be more prone to worrying and feel easily irritated and frustrated quickly.
These are common indicators that you’re feeling stressed, possibly due to the impact the current situation has brought to your wellbeing, or you’re still trying to adapt to being at home for most of the day. But if you feel like you are constantly suffering from poor mental health, don’t hesitate to reach out as it is just as important as your physical wellbeing.
With our MyCLNQ mobile application, we help to make telehealth services accessible to you. You can schedule for a remote consultation to talk to an online doctor in your preferred language or find the nearest clinic in your area with the shortest waiting time. We have strategic partnerships with GPs and specialist clinics to provide greater accessibility to health services. With just a touch of a button, you can manage your medical needs as well as your whole family’s, and ensure everyone get to stay on top of their health amid this stressful period.
If you are facing other issues, you can seek for help and advice at the following:
(Violence or abuse)
Project StART: +65 6476 1482
(Marital and parenting problems)
Community Psychology Hub’s Online Counselling Platform: CPHOnlineCounselling.sg
(Mental health)
National CARE Hotline: +65 6202 6868
Silver Ribbon Singapore: +65 6385 3714