Getting back on the wagon

As the pandemic wears on, many are complaining of experiencing difficulties with fulfilling basic tasks — a condition described as executive dysfunction

The second wave of the pandemic, especially, has had many complaining of extended feelings of lethargy and stupor, where even regular tasks and chores feel tedious and unusually cumbersome. Many have compared living through the extended lockdowns to walking through a dense fog or feelings of stagnation, where an hour (or day) blends into the next with little recollection on the part of those living through them, of how time has passed. “The pandemic has led to stress becoming an integral part of our lives. The constant uncertainty has led to chronic stress for many. When a person experiences chronic stress, it not only has an impact on their mental state but also starts to affect brain functioning. Chronic stress has been linked with increased frequency of cognitive failures,” explains Namrata Jain, a counselling psychologist.

She adds that the struggle that people are facing in keeping up with their daily routine, which includes planning, organising, staying focused, problem-solving or executing new activities, is collectively termed as executive dysfunction. “During my sessions, clients have expressed a loss of interest, difficulty waking up in the morning, challenges with planning and organising their day, missing meetings or planned calls, misplacing items, and feeling confused. Further, a lack of sound sleep or sleep that is interrupted by recurring dreams and disturbed sleep patterns are common problems,” she adds.

What’s causing it?

Studies indicate that prolonged stress and anxiety causes the human brain to regress to a rudimentary state of cognitive ability. This means that while people may be able to fulfill basic chores, they will have difficulty with anything that requires higher planning or thinking outside the box — and so, they may struggle with making balanced decisions or understanding other people’s perspectives, Jain explains.

Namrata Jain

Being under chronic stress also leads to your brain producing increased amounts of a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol can eventually affect your brain’s ability to produce new cells and also accelerate the rate at which older cells die. This causes people to become less cognitively flexible, making it harder for them to adapt to new situations. “Our everyday lives offered numerous rewarding experiences, whether in our professional or social spheres. Being cut off from these has also starved the brain of its dopamine hits, causing us to seek these via other sources, such as binge eating or watching shows. These artificial rewards are followed by an immediate crash, which negatively affects the brain,” she reasons.

Setting it right 

It’s important for individuals who experience executive dysfunction to take a step back to focus on self-care. These include relaxation techniques, yoga, meditation, healthy eating, and therapy to manage their stress levels. To rewire your brain, take small steps every day to inculcate new habits and routines. You can also seek the assistance of digital reminders such as calendars, organisers and habit-forming apps. Engage in activities that stimulate all your senses — visual, auditory, kinaesthetic, olfactory, and gustatory. Plan your day starting early and place a physical schedule at a spot that is easily accessible. Keep looking at it several times a day. You could also play board games that are focused on organising, planning and problem-solving with your friends and family members. If, despite these measures, you fail to see improvements in your mental state, seek therapy from an  expert who can help you learn coping strategies to deal with stress and improve executive functioning, Jain concludes.

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