Group 1 (week 2)- Mental Health

 Anxiety Documentary

    My group is presenting today on mental health and the film that we chose was "What It Is Like Living With Anxiety and Panic Attacks Nadiya Hussain: Anxiety and Me." The documentary talked about how Nadiya Hussain has to live life with constant anxiety and panic attacks on a day-to-day basis. Her mentality basically always goes to thinking about how she's going to die and to distract her mind she likes to cook and bake in order to keep her mind busy. 

    I feel like this documentary was a big eye-opener or a reality check for me because it made me realize how much mental health can affect a person's everyday life. Fear and anxiety can stop a person from living life to its full potential. It also made me realize that experiences can play a big factor in how someone grows up to be, like how your parents raised you and that plays a big part in shaping who you are. For example in the documentary, Nadiya experienced extreme bullying in primary school where they would bully her for her skin color, they would pull her hair, flush her hair down the toilet, and slam doors on her fingers. 

    Nadiya was diagnosed with panic disorder but her therapist, Paul, told her that it's very possible for her to be treated or at least how to manage these anxiety/panic attacks. In the end, Nadiya was able to know what certain things trigger her attacks, she takes anti-anxiety medications, and attends these meetings where other people go through their life trying to face things that trigger their attacks but with the help of someone talking them through to calm them down. 

Reading Reflections

    The readings for my group consisted of one common thing; how the Covid-19 pandemic and quarantine affected a person's mental health. According to an article from the World Health Organization they said, "In the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by a massive 25%." This made me realize that a bunch of people worldwide was experiencing it because we were all deprived of our ability to go out anywhere and the ability to socialize and meet new people. It was really hard for people with mental illnesses already because it was poorly managed and the neglect they probably felt because the whole world was busy trying to get better. The whole world was in a recession because businesses weren't as busy prior to the pandemic, it was hard trying to find a job, and it was hard to get treated due to minimal hospital space to be treated. Our mental health was deteriorating with the whole world. In the article, "COVID-19 pandemic and mental health: The surgeon's role in re-engaging patients," it says, "While the cause is often multifactorial, increased mental distress may be, in part, due to measures taken to slow the spread of the virus, such as social distancing, business and school closures, and shelter-in-place order - all of which lead to greater isolation and emotional angst. Additionally, loss of employment and health insurance, as well as increased anxiety and uncertainty about the future will undoubtedly lead to a long-term upsurge in the number and severity of mental health problems." Personally, it was really hard trying to live day to day doing the same routine, not seeing my friends, not being able to go out, and having the constant fear of getting sick.