Naturally, the ongoing power outages have made millions of people anxious and stressed out. South Africans are unhappy over load shedding and it could spark protests, according to a News24 report.
The ongoing power outages are no longer just a minor inconvenience at this point. They are having negative effects on a variety of things, including small businesses, traffic flow, theft cases (such as cable theft), productivity levels for persons working from home without a backup power source, appliances and devices, and the speedy spoilage of refrigerated items.
A recent article by the publication said, the South African funeral practitioners association is urging South Africans to bury their loved ones within four days of death because the ongoing power cuts coupled with the heatwave are causing bodies to decay at an alarming rate.
This is a sad reality South Africans are faced with, like any consistent major inconvenience, it takes a toll on ones mental health.
According to one psychiatrist, our normal reaction in the current circumstance is to feel frustrated, anxious, angry, and outraged.
Professor Renata Schoeman, director of the MBA in Healthcare Leadership program at Stellenbosch Business School, explains that these are all typical human reactions to uncertainty and irritation, particularly if you feel “done in.”
It is causing a wave of stress and anxiety which, for many, could lead to depression. Lots of people speak of their frustration, anger, disillusionment and outrage. There is also a growing, all-pervasive sense of hopelessness. Feelings of being disempowered and of being out of control of the basic rhythms of daily life are mounting. For those who already suffer from anxiety, this exacerbates their anxiety. Anxiety and stress lead to exhaustion and this becomes a vicious circle.
As we prepare for yet another day of load shedding, many South Africans feel they are losing it. Our lives are being affected by the power outages, as well as our mental health on an individual and on a societal level. We have been experiencing load shedding for over five years now but we cant normalise it, it cripples us daily in all facets of our lives.
We hope you are able to remain in a good state of mind as you try live your lives on a schedule.
