Traffic jams to ruin peace

Traffic jams to ruin peace
Bengaluru,








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Long hours spent in traffic jams, incessant honking and potholed roads could increase stress levels, warn psychiatrists, pointing out that Bengalureans already have various other reasons like a fast paced lifestyle to suffer from stress.

Nuclear families and multi-tasking, which are the offshoot of Bengalureans’ new way of life, are already troublesome for their mental health. Traffic snarls and bumpy rides are proving to be the last straw. “People already have a lot to cope with and to top it all when they have to deal with the hassles of traffic and roads every day, it leaves them fatigued and stressed out,” says Dr Satish Chandra, consultant psychiatrist, Central Government Health Scheme.

He says a few people sometimes develop muscular spasms owing to extreme stress.

“Muscles are acted upon by the nerves and when one is severely stressed the nerves are affected and so are the muscles, leading to spasms,” Dr Chandra explains.

Psychiatrists say many patients complain their productivity is affected due to depression or anxiety.

“This state of mind is worsened when they have to drive for long hours on bad roads. So we suggest yoga and other stress-busting techniques to help them tackle such situations,” says Dr Chandra.

The worst affected appear to be those who travel during peak hours.

“A large number of my patients suffering from depression and anxiety for various reasons often say they travel during peak hours to reach office and back home. This is an indication that traffic snarls and bad roads can affect one’s mental health,” says Dr Vivek Shourie, a consultant psychiatrist.

Dr Shourie suggests stress-busting techniques and also asks his patients to leave early for work in order to avoid the traffic chaos. “They cannot do anything about the bad roads, but at least they can avoid bad traffic by leaving early for work,” says the doctor, adding that this not only enhances their productivity, but also helps maintain their calm throughout the day.