Expert: Use ‘positive distraction’ to deal with anxiety, stress due to COVID-19 threat

“Positive distraction” is one of the activities people can do to help them deal with their anxiety and stress amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, according to an expert.

In Cata TIbayan’s report on “24 Oras” Thursday, psychologist Dr. Maria Caridad Tarroja said it’s normal to be anxious and stressed about the ongoing health crisis. However, it’s not healthy if the person thinks of the problem for the whole day.

To those dealing with this situation, Tarroja recommended they use “positive distraction,” an activity that they liked and would require the use of their minds and bodies so they could avoid worrisome thoughts.

“People need to discover the new ways of doing things na medyo kakaiba sa dati nilang ginagawa,” said Tarroja.

She also said people need to know what their positive distractions were, because one that may work for some may not work for others.

“Some people say exercising yoga works for them, great, pero others will have other ways to find their distraction so whatever works for you is okay,” the psychologist added.

Last week, the Philippine Mental Health Association shared that 85 percent of the calls they had received sought mental health assistance related to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Forty-five percent of the callers suffer from an anxiety disorder while 30 percent suffer from a depressive disorder. – Kaela Malig/RC, GMA News