THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL DISTANCING ON WORKING PROFESSIONALS’DAILY LIFE DUE TO COVID-19

To stop the spread of coronavirus, health and government officials have recommended staying indoors, avoiding large gatherings and even have forced people out of work. This reduces the chance of contact with those knowingly or unknowingly carrying the infection. The paper attempts to discuss the negative effects of quarantine or social distancing and home lockdown on mental health. Stay-at-home orders have their psychological pressures on everyone due to combination of factors including financial pressures, fear of business closing and the inability to practice many activities that represent an outlet for coping with crises such as family socializing, going to the gym or attending religious rituals. The paper attempts to investigate the psychological and physical risks of social distancing on people. Mental health professionals unanimously agree that the quarantine imposed on more than a billion people around the world because of the Corona virus pandemic is neither easy nor a matter to be underestimated, as it is an exceptional and unprecedented measure that restricts individual freedoms even in democratic areas. This situation causes psychological problems for many people, especially for those who fail to deal positively with this issue. Being confined between the walls of the home for several days or weeks as a result of the quarantine is unusual for the general public except in exceptional circumstances, which in many cases causes severe psychological effects, requiring follow-up and treatment by specialists. Anxiety, tension and excitement are among the most prominent "psychological effects" that circulate in such cases. Anxiety is a specific emotion characterized by high arousal, negative valence, uncertainty, and a low sense of control (Gray, 1991; Raghunathan & Pham, 1999; C. Smith &Ellsworth, 1985). The methodology used in this study is descriptive field study, which implements multi-disciplinary approach. A questionnaire is administered among professionals to explore the impact of social distancing on their life.