The consequences of the war in Iran are also taking their toll on people's emotional well-being, with economic uncertainty provoking anxiety, according to the psychiatrist Kazuhiro Tajima.
"It is logical that in this situation of economic uncertainty, we experience this feeling of loss of control and this ends up leading to anxiety problems", he warned. To cope with this situation, he recommends getting as much information as necessary about the crisis and strengthening social relationships, which are key to protecting psychological well-being in times of instability.
In addition, he recommends maintaining habits and customs.
"We should not break with our daily routines in terms of leisure, sporting or other activities. Unfortunately, in his opinion, in situations of emergency or economic uncertainty, this is the first thing many people do, which contributes to increasing anxiety," he said.
Tajima believes that taking care of our social environment is key.
"Socialisation will help us to alleviate all those effects that can undermine our mental health. We must strengthen our social relationships to prevent us from becoming isolated in this situation of economic uncertainty," he said.
"When we lack routines or don't interact socially, we tend to constantly think about problems," he explained. "If there is also economic concern, we end up thinking about not making ends meet.
In times of crisis, many people give up leisure and sport in order to cut costs. However, Tajima advises the opposite.
"Giving up leisure or sporting activities is a mistake because they help us to disconnect from our worries. It is necessary to maintain them or even to promote them in order to mentally reset," he said.
The psychiatrist also advises us to feel like we have purpose. "There is nothing worse than feeling useless", which is why he recommends "resorting to all kinds of leisure or work activities that make us feel good".
In this context of uncertainty, Tajima said that the collaborative economy boom is making a comeback.
"We are witnessing a renaissance of barter, in this case digital, which can help us as a society to feel that we are all useful," he stressed.
This is the case of Saco, a platform that this psychiatrist, together with another entrepreneur, has set up to exchange skills for services with time as the currency of exchange, and which they intend to take to other countries.
In a scenario marked by geopolitical tension and the rising cost of living, it is more necessary than ever to protect mental health and face economic challenges in order to strengthen collective resilience in times of crisis.
