A: Firstly, we thank your parents and all others who are fighting like warriors to save humanity.
Well, we do understand that it's a tough situation for you, but be inspired from your parents and extend a support system to them.
Involve yourself in small household chores. Extend your friend circle. You now have the opportunity to know your classmates better and make new friends.
Engage yourself creatively and fruitfully. Skill up yourself. You have enough time in your hands to paint, sketch, doodle, or cook. Try some new recipes and surprise your parents by cooking for them. You may arrange your dad's cupboard or arrange his documents or files. You can also start a gratitude journal to help you focus on the positives in your life. It is simple and easy to do. Just find a spare notebook or paper and number them 1 to 3. Then write down 3 things you are grateful for today. Don't worry, it doesn't have to be ground-breaking. Try this every day, share your thoughts with your friends and family and to help spread the gratitude.

A: Several students who have plans to study abroad have delayed their plans due to lockdown restrictions imposed in various countries across the globe leading to suspension of classes and visa processes.
The plan is only deferred but not cancelled. There is no region left out from the impact of corona virus, so there are no alternative destinations. You need to be patient and keep track online of various universities and the changing situations globally. But it is advised not to submit fees online if they are non-refundable.

A: It’s 2020, and you have an entire world of free online workouts, many of which require nothing more than a small amount of space. Technology is offering incredible fitness programmes for constrained spaces. Follow a routine. Get up early and invest that time in yoga. Use your staircase for cardio. Strength building exercise sessions helps. Running in place is an option for you. Sessions on crunches, squats, lunges, and pilates with wall support, planks are good result yielding exercise regime. Eat a balanced diet with lots of fresh greens. Choose a fruit or oil - free healthy option for snacking in between meals. Practice mindful eating. Keep you self-hydrated and most importantly stay positive and motivated.

A: It’s true that you must be missing school, friends and teachers. Also, it was time for the new session to begin and we can all anticipate your excitement of going to a new class. Take this lockdown period as a blessing in disguise. Spend more time with your family. Pursue hobbies that you might have wanted for long such as photography, reading, write a story , cooking without fire- learn sandwich making , simple tossed salads, gardening, learning public speaking or create your own puzzle frames .Speak to your teachers about your interests. They can send you music, dance or art lessons through small video clippings .You are connected virtually with your cousins ,friends and teachers through the means of social media. Let’s make maximum utilization of this time and learn new things, that can help you in your future as well.

A: The darkest night gives way to a new dawn. Similarly, this grave hour of crisis shall lead to new beginnings. Looking at the positive side of the crisis it has brought forth new realizations. People across world have learnt values which were till now only written in textbooks. With so much of self -reflection happening people have realized that health workers are true heroes and not the social media celebrities. Children have learnt dignity of labour and value of resources. The list of positive is endless. So, however grave the situation seems to be at present, we all shall emerge stronger and better human beings. Lockdown and its related challenges is not in your hands but your academics is. So, let your worries rest and begin your day with a small prayer. Engage your mind in creative pursuits – read a book ; paint ; draw All shall be fine. Meanwhile, use technology in the best possible way to contribute to a brighter tomorrow.

A: During times of COVID-19, it is natural that inclination towards internet will increase because everyone these days is interacting and working through technology. It is to be believed that several lives may be changed for positive with the help of tele-counseling sessions if needed by the people with mental health concerns. If, though, you find that you need more intensive help of credentialed professionals or your doctor has recommended professional treatment or you want to try something else — there are lots of options to suit your needs and situation. Finally, and most importantly, give yourself some time alone, do time management, invest your time in home-chores activities as well. Reduce screen time and increase interpersonal time. This multifaceted approach helps address every aspect of your behaviour, giving you the best shot at living a healthy, happy life in recovery.

A: You are going through the "wear and tear" experience. As a positive influence, stress can help compel us to action; it can result in a new awareness and an exciting new perspective. As a negative influence, it can result in feelings which in turn can lead to health problems such as lack of sleep, mood swings, indigestion, abdominal cramps, neck ache, and backache including the feeling of helplessness. While moving ahead at your debut job, it is important to take care of a healthy balanced diet, good sleep, moderate exercise and regular communication with loved ones. The golden rule is to enhance intake of greens, fruits salads and pulses, keep a check on the oils, spices and salts. Adequate sleep is must for rejuvenation of the mind. Plan at least 6 – 7 hours of restful sleep to enhance concentration. Minimum structured physical activity i.e. 15-20 minutes of jumping, skipping, yoga and meditation is not only refreshing but also mood elevating. Keep your pro-social behaviours alive and flying along with the demanding job. Remember family and friends are always a leap to your confidence.

A: Fix a sleep schedule and regulate your biological clock and your sleep patterns will be automatically fixed. Reduce activities that cause stress or excitement before going to sleep like sitting in bright light (computer / phone), listening to loud music or news related to pandemic Covid-19 etc. Avoid afternoon naps, eat light dinner, avoid electronics before going to bed. Make a routine to get up early in morning and spend some time for exercise, yoga or meditation. This will help to reduce your stress and anxiety, and keep you active throughout the day.

A: True, this is actually testing time for all of us, however, remember we have to fight out these moments of crisis. Firstly, sit with your parents and discuss your feelings. Get clarity on these issues. They might assure you that they have savings. All parents plan for future still see if you can avoid any major and unnecessary expenses and be a support to them. Try to help out your parents with simple household chores. That will give them a feeling that you are responsible and understand them. Stay positive and hopeful, this is temporary. Keep in mind that every individual is different. If you are concerned about changes in your behaviour, talk to your doctor or health care provider. Share this with your parents as well. Be prepared to seek further evaluation by a specialist with experience in child mental health issues.

A: At this age, Adolescents do get distracted due to various reasons. First move should be to preserve your overall health in the face of board exams. Be an active participant in all the activities happening in your school. Do not just keep to yourself. Being pro social with diverse interests can go a long way in keeping harmony within you. Secondly, one can appreciate certain facts about stress. As a positive influence, stress can enhance our action, it can mobilize newer awareness and an exciting new perspective. As a negative impact, such feelings can lead to health concerns such as lack of sleep, mood swings, indigestion, abdominal cramps, and head ache including the feeling of helplessness. Lastly, involve yourself in studies, in more challenging and more rewarding way. This will help you remain busy and keep your mind focused on the task at hand. Try to be innovative, avoid remaining grumpy and be more approachable. This is just a phase; one need not be petrified. Soon you will discover your interest and will certainly blossom.

A: Many a times this clearly describes the low mood that goes deeper than usual or feels as if it has got helplessly prolonged. Nevertheless, if you can recognize these moods before they turn severe, then you can help your friend to deal with them effectively.
As this close friend of yours is going through depression, your support in the right way can be particularly helpful. Keep in mind, while you feel empathy and a desire to help, a part of you is likely to feel frustrated and irritated. Depressed friends and relatives may be quite difficult and therefore, it is vital to understand the effects of that state of mind on his daily life and your patience too. Though your keenness & responsibility is appreciated, you are not there to solve his problems. Primarily, your role is to listen and to reflect honestly on the reasons why your friend is feeling sad and low. Your role can further be enhanced as a facilitator, supporter and a sounding board. Yes, you need to be patient while caring. This much initiative will be extremely useful to make him feel cared and seek further assistance.

A: It is important to understand that anger just like any other human emotion is normal. It gives us a way to express our negative feelings. It is often experienced by us in certain situations when we feel cheated, rejected, excluded, disappointed or hurt in some way. Everyone feels angry, however, the expression of anger may differ due to the way people are brought up in varied cultures.Anger and aggression, are quite common especially during adolescence as it is a period of rapid physical changes which can give rise to a variety of social and emotional changes as well.You have mentioned that your aggression sometimes become destructive in nature and it may cause harm or disturbance to others. In such a case, try to find out exactly which issues lead to the frequent outburst of anger. You can try to recognize your warning signs when you get angry. By doing so, you will have the opportunity to take immediate action and prevent yourself from doing or saying things that are hurtful. You may also try to remove yourself from the situation if you can.It is important to understand that this pattern of reaction has developed over a period of time and would take some time to resolve so acknowledge and praise your own small efforts in this direction.

A: First of all, you have to understand that even your son is facing this unprecedented situation where he is confused and worried about when his Board examinations will take place, how will they happen, whether these exams are going to impact his future positively or negatively. Seeing this from his perspective will help you understand, empathize and connect better with him. As a parent, you need to provide the right kind of motivation and a conducive environment for your child along with parental support and warmth. Appreciate your child’s efforts and be patient, understanding and open to accepting his mistakes. Your child needs you as a good friend, a comrade with whom he can communicate with comfort. Only discussing academic and discipline issues may put him at an arm’s distance and in the process, shutting the doors for a warm and positive child-parent relationship. Therefore, appreciate your child’s efforts and encourage him to give his best. Make sure to incorporate physical activity, a healthy diet and good sleep hygiene in his schedule.

A: Sometimes, people who are shy tend to give themselves fewer chances to practice social behaviors. As you mentioned that you get easily nervous on meeting people, you might want to step back from such a situation that induces you to feel shy. You have to understand that by doing so you are only reinforcing your shyness. The more you practice social behaviors, the easier they will be and would feel more natural to you. Try communicating with yourself looking in a mirror. Observe yourself and initiate a talk, prepare yourself for a social situation. The mirror will allow you to be cognizant of the way you speak and will put you at ease for a similar situation in the future. Take one step at a time and gradually expose yourself to unfamiliar settings and people and gain confidence gradually. The more confident you are, the more comfortable you will feel.

A: Establishing healthy eating habits early in life is important. You should note that children like colours, variety and of course the taste in a critical mix to find food attractive. As you would have seen that though the food from outside is not healthy but qualifies in all these determinants and therefore children get attracted to such kind of food. Try to present all these qualities in the food cooked at home and indeed the child will be fascinated to eat more home cooked meals. As far as outdoor activities are considered, it is important to note that play is considered as one of the best ways for children to engage in learning as it provides them with an opportunity to learn based on their experiences. Indulging in play can enhance their understanding and memory. Since your daughter is not in a habit of playing or any physical activity, it would be great if you could take personal initiative and arrange for some prospects for her to indulge in play activities such as arranging a play date with her best friends or an outdoor activity for her. Children often learn by example. You may note that if as a parent you practice healthy eating habits then you will become a good role model for her. Also, follow simple things like eating together at the dining table. Everyone should eat the same home cooked meal and try to maintain a fixed time for your meals. You can reward her for practicing good eating and outdoor activity with something she likes to motivate her further for a beginning.

A: The fact that you mentioned that your parents are understanding and caring is a basic grounding for any healthy relationship. This gives you a head start to negotiate and build a middle path that accommodates your needs and the concerns of your parents. As a teenager, it is very natural to interpret your parental love as overwhelming. But while you explore your feelings as part of unfolding journey into adulthood, spare moments to think from the parents’ viewpoint also. Parents may be feeling responsible and worried for you and therefore restricting certain activities that may cause harm to you. May be some of the deeper concerns are reflections of day-to-day happenings in the society. This may explain their overprotective behaviour towards you.You can talk to your parents and try to build trust and give them a better perspective on your issues of concern which will help you feel a sense of freedom and also give them the assurance of your safety and well-being.

A: Talk to your child and ask him how he feels about his social life. If he expresses dissatisfaction with his ability to make friends, inquire about what is creating the difficulty and then try to explore options with him to deal with it. It is the responsibility of school and parents to treat the child as normally as possible and refrain from using any label for the child. View him as a whole personality and do not make his giftedness as his only description. Labels raise expectations too. You may want to find out about the school activities and interests which might provide the extra challenge and opportunities he needs from an interpersonal context.

A: Motivation is not sought; it is inside us. Our own will to excel and deliver good performance is sign of high motivation. You can schedule yourself, keep small targets, reduce the T.V. time and indulge for short duration indoor exercises. Inculcate a balanced diet along with extra water intake, it will provide adequate oxygen to brain. Other tips to self-motivate are: Be positive & hopeful. Think empowering, expansive thoughts.; Choose to be happy. Happy people are easily motivated. Happiness is your birth right so don’t settle for anything else, however, it is your choice too; Spend at least one hour a day in self-development. Read good books or listen to inspiring music.; Train yourself to finish what you start. So many of us become scattered as we try to accomplish a task. Finish one task before you begin another.; Live fully in the present moment. When you live in the past or the future you aren’t able to make things happen in the present.
Remember! the power to succeed or fail will always be yours alone. You alone have the responsibility to shape your life.

A: Time management in modern day living is also the hallmark of life management skills. Firstly, make a schedule that is possible. When you find yourself sitting and watching TV for hours or just doing nothing and getting bored, use your work list to change your free time into a productive time. Put things that are most important at the top and do them first. If it is easier, use a planner to track all of your tasks and do not forget to reward yourself for your accomplishment. Keep a note in diary or put a reminder buzzer to help you keep a track of your responsibilities and tasks. This will give you plenty of time to do what you want to do.
With the help of your family and videos online, seek to learn relaxation techniques that will eliminate stress and anxiety in minutes. Do not compromise on sleep because it reduces study efficiency along with recalling power during exam times. When things around us are not under our control and when we must do a dozen things within a limited period of time, our mind has to focus on real priorities. However, with the right planning we can bring order and discipline into our lives. It’s about nurturing attitudes.

A: It hasn’t been too long ago that online degrees were not taken seriously by employers, treating the credentials as certificate programs. However, attitudes have changed as new technologies boosted the popularity of virtual learning, encouraging the participation of traditional schools in this new format.
It is Global Pandemic and today all the education is happening online which is a real-time interaction through live lessons in virtual classrooms, so Relax and Keep Learning!

A: Firstly, try to understand whether these feelings have just started to arise or they were there even before this pandemic situation. If they were present even before this time, you may contact a Professional and work upon what is suggested. If you have started feeling this way recently, it is natural and temporary, however, you should take help from the university counseling services or helpline. Quick simple suggestions would be to talk to your friend or you can move on to something lighter when you begin to feel overwhelmed.

A: You being a young adult are in the most productive years of your life. You certainly are fortunate to have more availability of time and energy especially in the fresh morning hours. It is very natural to feel alone when you don’t find anyone to share this time and energy. However, it is important to note that having good relationships is not a matter of number of hours spent together but the quality of the hours spent together. Make sure to interact and bond with your family on a regular basis no matter how small a duration it always adds to the relationships. However, do talk to them openly about your feelings and let them know that spending less time with them is bothering you emotionally. Sit with them and make a schedule that is possible for everyone to follow and which allows you to spend more time with them. Encourage your family members to have a healthier lifestyle by discussing with them about the benefits of good habits such as waking up early, eating meals on time and having sleep hygiene. Further, you should understand that it is not important to have thoughts that match but the feeling of acceptance even when the differences in thoughts and actions exist.

A: What you described seems to be an addiction. Firstly, it is important to understand the reasons of why he has started consuming alcohol. Talk to your son and let him know that you are going to support him on his journey to recovery. Educate yourself about addiction and recovery process and discuss it with your son. However, avoid making him feel guilty or ashamed in the process. Encourage him to get help from a psychologist, counsellor, psychiatrist or a de addiction centre. As a parent, you must develop a good, healthy relationship with your son and communicate openly with him.