While the celebration of the “International Day of Yoga” has become an integral part of the global calendar, especially in India, its true significance lies within our souls.

            The inherent meaning of ‘yoga’ or ‘yog’ is ‘union with God’ which is the true union that all souls are innately seeking. Most human beings across the planet have heard of ‘yoga’ but a majority of them still identify this concept with physical exercises or yog-asanas – Hath Yoga. Yet there is so much more to yoga that needs to be understood and practised!

            Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda, the author of the renowned spiritual classic, “Autobiography of a Yogi” was a pioneering Indian guru who travelled to the western world in order to enlighten truth seekers about the true meaning of yoga. His emphasis on meditation as an integral part of the ‘action plan’ that all individuals must adopt, in their search for the true meaning of life, was timely as well as timeless. Yoganandaji propounded spiritual effort as the only way towards fulfilment of the highest goal of life: self-realization, or oneness with God. And his own guru, Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri, famously said, “Everything in future will improve if you are making a spiritual effort now!”

            A step by step scientific technique is what each devotee of God needs to further his or her outreach towards the attainment of the ultimate verities that Yoganandaji writes about in “Autobiography of a Yogi.”

            Kriya Yoga is the highest form of yoga and is that specific scientific pathway which Yoganandaji emphasized upon as the foremost route known to mankind for attainment of divine communion. Kriya Yoga involves definite scientific techniques which enable the practitioner to not only improve his or her physical and mental health, but more importantly, it enables the ‘yogi’ to eventually find true peace and joy within which are clear indicators of the presence of God within us.

            Yoganandaji explained to his followers, both oriental and western, that the Kriya Yoga path can be practiced by everyone and is a sure shot doorway to the highest realms of existence. He also elaborated upon certain preliminary techniques, as well as a ‘how to live’ philosophy which are essential steps leading to the highest portal of Kriya Yoga meditation. Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita also mentions Kriya Yoga twice in glorious words. Millions have been inspired to adopt Kriya Yoga as a way of life, with all its manifestations. Yet, the real benefit of Kriya Yoga lies in its sincere practice, as Lahiri Mahasaya, guru of Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri, emphasized. The golden gateway to the upper echelons of our existence is to be found in the meaningful and regular practice of the Kriya Yoga technique.

            Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (YSS) is the spiritual organization founded in 1917 by Yoganandaji. YSS continues to disseminate deep insights into the voluminous teachings of Yoganandaji, through books, printed lessons and other means. The number of devotees following the Kriya Yoga path have multiplied enormously in recent decades, all over India and the world.

            As a young devotee said during a recent ‘Sadhana Sangam’ at the Ranchi Ashram of YSS, “My life has been transformed by the discovery of the teachings of Yoganandaji and the path of Kriya Yoga.” For further info.: yssi.org

Writer: Vivek Atray

By Sunil Sarpal

A healthy lifestyle is a must to lead a life cheerfully. 

In the morning before sun rise,  visit the close by park for walk/jogging/running as per demands of your age/body.  Most of the parks these days have in-built Gym.  One can do exercise of your choice.  Never miss out on this regimen so that you may start the day in a vibrant and healthy ways. 

Consume a coconut milk after the work out. 

After a shower,  the breakfast should consist of milk and some ‘dry fruits,  apart from what you prefer.  Avoid Paronthas and too much butter. 

Make it a habit not to eat between two meals. 

The lunch should always consist of Curd and Salad, apart from Roti, Sabji, Daal, Rice etc.  The food should not be spicy and oily. 

If because of the demand of your age, you feel like taking a nap, it is your choice. 

Tea in the evening accompanied by some biscuits. 

Avoid consuming food at dinner time and instead eat fruits, particularly seasonal ones.  and hot milk. 

Avoid food from outside. 

Always eat moderately and never indulge in over eating. 

Eat when you feel like and clean up your stomach once or twice in accordance with your routine. 

Dont eat non veg and drink liquor.  Stay away from the company those prefer such things. 

These are the post pandemic times when wellness has become the most spoken, admired, coveted and desired word. Never has the quest for people to feel well, comforted, at ease within themselves, healthy, stress free and especially mentally calm been more flagrant. Years of living in so much unnecessary fear aggravated by an onslaught in the press and media of Covid related over-information have wreaked havoc. Erratic unstable work closures and lack of work, as well as changed work situations, have left millions financial depleted.

Spiritually this translates into accepting and realising that a new beginning, a new reality is taking shape. Our ways of life were no longer sustainable. This itself is a vast subject, but suffice to say that insane working hours and demands as well as many levels of unrealistic living, have suddenly become redundant. Many are questioning their lifestyles.

Recently statistics have shown waves of resignations in Europe and elsewhere and also scores wanting to go back to smaller cities or towns in nature seaside mountains, or living off the grid, or trading their cushy corporate jobs for countryside ones.

Irrespective people want to feel well as they did few years or decades back. They’re willing to make drastic changes in their professional and personal domains just to get there. What matters and what does not are shifting dramatically and many want a balanced harmonious and peaceful living – even if a little divorced from too much technology .

Yoga, meditation, a zillion forms of healing are super fashionable and definitely the trends now. Massages, organic and natural beauty and healing products, Reiki, past life regression and also I know of people practicing Quigong, Taichi and Martial Arts to balance out . There will definitely be an enormous resurgence of all forms of healing in the coming years. It is the need of the hour and many more shall succumb to their magical mystical healing.

Everyone is talking about oxygen concentrators now. Most of us had not heard of them before. Many know about distillers which extract water from air, yet very few realised that even oxygen can be extracted from air. So what is an Oxygen Concentrator and how do you choose the right one?

The most important is to understand that Covid patients require 90% Oxygen concentration at 1to 5Litre flow and above to 10L

Tips on Selecting the right oxygen concentrator.

The most important is to understand Covid patients require 90% Oxygen concentration at 1to 5Litre flow and above to 10L when they are suffering with acute respiratory discomfort.

90% oxygen concentration is the most important point here.

1. We can break down oxygen concentrator into small (5 to 10 kg) oxygen concentrator suitable for COPD patients, medium (15 to 19kg) and large (20kg and above) oxygen concentrators are suitable for critical care and for COVID patients.
2. Small oxygen concentrators can have options from 1 Litre to 9 Litre Flow but this does not mean you get 90% oxygen at higher flow like at 5 litre. On small oxygen concentrators 90% oxygen contration is achieved only at lower flows of 1litre to 2 litre. on higher flows the oxygen concentration drops to 30% as you increase the flow. Suitable for COPD patients but not for COVID patients.
3. Check the specs of the oxygen concentrator and if you see 90% – 30% or ( 1L/min , 2L/min) means 90% oxygen is available only at 1Litre flow or 2Litre flow respectively and on higher flows oxygen drops to 30%. The air we breathing is with 29% oxygen. So small (5kg to 10kg ) oxygen concentrator at higher flows gives output of 30% oxygen means its just blowing air.
4. weight is the best indicator to understand the oxygen production capacity.

A 5kg to 10kg oxygen concentrator means a small compressor which will only mange to give an output of 90% oxygen at 1 litre to max 2 Litre

A 15kg to 19kg Oxygen Concentrator will have a compressor that can easily give an output of 90% oxygen at flows from 1 Litre to 5 Litre Oxygen (Ideal for COVID patients and critical care patients)

A 20 kg and above oxygen concentrator will have a large compressor which can give an output of 90% oxygen from 1Litre to 10Litre flow. (Ideal for COVID patients and critical care patients and for dual patients to use same machine with accessories)

Please do not only see the output flow of an oxygen concentrator like 5litre, 10litre or so. the most important is to make sure you get 90% Oxygen at highest flow level.

For a small family with no senior citizens a 5 litre at 90% oxygen concentration should be good enough.

For 2 senior citizens or for a big family 10 litre at 90% oxygen concentration should be good enough as it can support 2 patients at once if the need arises. And can assist senior citizens during home critical care if the need arises.

Please do not get fooled and pay big money for small oxygen concentrator sold by highlighting 5 Litre and 8 Litre and do not give an output of 90% concentration of oxygen at higher flows which is the need of the hour.

Please read the specs well and if required please ask your supplier to show you the oxygen output on an oxygen analyzer at higher flow of 5 Litre or 10 Litre.

they are suffering with acute respiratory discomfort.

90% oxygen concentration is the most important point here.

1. We can break down oxygen concentrator into small (5 to 10 kg) oxygen concentrator suitable for COPD patients, medium (15 to 19kg) and large (20kg and above) oxygen concentrators are suitable for critical care and for COVID patients.
2. Small oxygen concentrators can have options from 1 Litre to 9 Litre Flow but this does not mean you get 90% oxygen at higher flow like at 5 litre. On small oxygen concentrators 90% oxygen contration is achieved only at lower flows of 1litre to 2 litre. on higher flows the oxygen concentration drops to 30% as you increase the flow. Suitable for COPD patients but not for COVID patients.
3. Check the specs of the oxygen concentrator and if you see 90% – 30% or ( 1L/min , 2L/min) means 90% oxygen is available only at 1Litre flow or 2Litre flow respectively and on higher flows oxygen drops to 30%. The air we breathing is with 29% oxygen. So small (5kg to 10kg ) oxygen concentrator at higher flows gives output of 30% oxygen means its just blowing air.
4. weight is the best indicator to understand the oxygen production capacity.

A 5kg to 10kg oxygen concentrator means a small compressor which will only manage to give an output of 90% oxygen at 1 litre to max 2 Litre

A 15kg to 19kg Oxygen Concentrator will have a compressor that can easily give an output of 90% oxygen at flows from 1 Litre to 5 Litre Oxygen (Ideal for COVID patients and critical care patients)

A 20 kg and above oxygen concentrator will have a large compressor which can give an output of 90% oxygen from 1Litre to 10Litre flow. (Ideal for COVID patients and critical care patients and for dual patients to use same machine with accessories)

Please do not only see the output flow of an oxygen concentrator like 5litre, 10litre or so. the most important is to make sure you get 90% Oxygen at highest flow level.

For a small family with no senior citizens a 5 litre at 90% oxygen concentration should be good enough.

For 2 senior citizens or for a big family 10 litre at 90% oxygen concentration should be good enough as it can support 2 patients at once if the need arises. And can assist senior citizens during home critical care if the need arises.

Please do not get fooled and pay big money for small oxygen concentrators sold by highlighting 5 Litre and 8 Litre and do not give an output of 90% concentration of oxygen at higher flows which is the need of the hour.

Please read the specs well and if required please ask your supplier to show you the oxygen output on an oxygen analyzer at higher flow of 5 Litre or 10 Litre.

Also most importantly consult a doctor before you invest your hard earned money in the device. Right now, because of a shortage of oxygen supplies, the concentrators are overpriced. As soon as supply meets demand, the price of concentrators will come down.

It may be a common sense assumption that when someone enters the world of treatment for their emotional or mental health issues their intention is to be relieved of their suffering, emerge healed and whole from the treatment. But does it really happen? Is there any way to know how many people actually exit the (mental health) system? Is anything going on in the treatment process that can actually lead to someone’s recovery?

By and large experiences of vast numbers of people are that once they enter into the system they are told by psy-professionals (and other medical professionals) of all hues that they would now have to rely on psychiatric medication for the rest of their lives. This insistence on medication, which is borne out of the agreed upon knowledge which all psy-professions draw from, invalidates the day-to-day suffering of people into a predetermined ‘illness’ category, complete with a diagnosis and prognosis. In 2019, I wrote this article which can be downloaded or read here or here which problematizes this aspect of treatment and questions what the goals of such treatment are.

It may be common sense assumption that when someone enters the world of treatment for their emotional or mental health issues their intention is to be relieved of their suffering, and emerge healed and whole. But does it really happen? Is there any way to know how many people actually exit the (mental health) system? Is there anything going on in the treatment process that can actually lead to someone’s recovery?

Research suggests that recovery is mostly not a goal psy-professionals target when they start treating people for their mental health issues. For most people the starting of treatment itself is ‘recovery’ because according to professionals the fact that people’s suffering has been recognized is itself a great victory over their ignorance: of being a mere suffering, while it is actually a real ‘illness’. However the truth from a ‘patient’s’ perspective is that until people take pharmacological treatments they believe themselves to be ‘ill’ or ‘sick’ and therefore not quite recovered. From the ‘patients’ ‘ position it is the ending of the treatment process and exiting psychiatry that counts as real recovery, not interminable treatments. Whether or not mental illness is a real illness is itself a topic of big discussion and debate, which I postpone for another location as of now.

Knowledge about recovery missing

When there is a gap in the social knowledge about a situation it has consequences; both for individuals, families and society as a whole. For example until penicillin was discovered by Alexander Flemming, a number of people would die for reasons as simple as flu or pneumonia. Antibiotics gave a new lease of life to people around the world and heralded a new era which cumulatively brought newer efforts that prolonged human life expectancy.

In the context of mental health when people are not aware that they can recover and they choose instead of continue taking medication, their lack of information is a knowledge or information gap. Instead of recovery their bodies become sites for testing newer drugs, yet no advancement produces the desired ‘cure’. When drug treatments continue for decades people not only become chronic patients, they also slowly develop  co-morbid conditions such as thyroid malfunctions, liver damage, akathisia (I have written about it here), seizures, lupus and scores of other conditions, not to mention the ‘regular’ issues of hypertension, diabetes etc.

A lack of information about the possibility of recovery, which leads to never ending treatments is the issue  addressed here. This knowledge or the lack of it, also called epistemic ignorance in research, becomes an issue of justice first of all. When people have unequal access to information in society, even though we  live in the information age: the internet having created unprecedented possibilities for diffusion of ideas, only the idea of rising incidence of mental health issues are widely publicized, especially by the media and myriad psy-professionals. Treatments that do not end and progressively disable people, making them socially outcast and confined to their domestic spheres become an issue of justice- for what then are these treatments intended for?    

Why human rights issue

When a patient or their caregiver is told by a psy-professional that their treatment is for life more often than not they do not question it, but accept the ‘diagnosis’ as a truth or fact. Treating people and the inability to produce a healing or cure, or letting them exit psychiatry by supporting drug withdrawal is not common or heard of. Long periods of remaining on these drugs makes people more and more disabled and socially marooned   for they lose the confidence to deal with life, situations and other people.

The information of recovery is a right to knowledge about the idea of recovery. It is a   right of every person who is on drug treatments to know how long their treatments would be and what alternatives exist. Until people do not realize that their interests and rights are being compromised if they continue taking drugs passively it will not help them, while pharma corporations will keep making steady incomes and rising profits. This is a gap of knowledge which can only be filled by people who have taken the path of recovery or who understand the injustice of denying people the knowledge about their mind and body. In one of my future pieces I will write about how the new Mental Healthcare Act of 2017 also does NOT support recovery and ensures people remain ‘patients’ ad infinitum, once they enter into the mental health system (that being the work I did for my doctorate)

Thank you for reading. If there is something more you would like to know about recovery from mental health challenges, or have a personal concern, you are welcome to post a query or comment in the comment box below. Prateeksha would be happy to respond to it, if necessary, even with a new blog post.

COVID-19 has changed our lives tremendously and in so many ways. On one hand, we can whine about how the pandemic made our world come to a standstill; but on the other hand, we cannot deny the fact that each of us has gained a lot from the year 2020. It felt like a break that we all needed but were too stuck up to avail it. Family time, clear blue skies, making time for hobbies, introspection – we all needed it; whether we accept it or not.
After being obese for almost all my life, 2020 gave me the courage to embark on a journey towards my healthier self. The two main factors that pushed me to take control of my health were the scare of coronavirus deaths and I was diagnosed to be a pre-diabetic. So, my main goal was to build strong immunity with a secondary goal of losing weight. This is why I chose only natural means to reach my health goals. Some simple lifestyle changes made all the difference. So, I am here to share it with you all.

1. Measure your weight and health
   Before beginning, your weight loss journey do measure your:
   -Bodyweight
   -BMI
   -Inches, especially around the problem areas
   -Get a blood test done to understand your health and be aware of the deficiencies
   How does it help?
   Eventually, when you start losing weight you can gauge your success by measuring the difference in your weight and inch loss. This will help keep you on the right track. You’ll feel happy and would have a sense of accomplishment.
2. Maintain a food diary
   Note down every meal that you consume mentioning the time, quantity, mood, location, and people you are with. Also, mention additional details like while you are snacking, are you consuming it with any sauces/butter, etc.
   How does it help?
   This helps understand eating habits and patterns. For e.g. one may be eating or drinking more around certain people, in a certain mood, or certain locations. It also helps stop mindless munching.
3. Say no to alcohol & junk food
   As mentioned in the food diary part – you may tend to eat or drink more around certain people. You can try and make them understand that you are trying to lead a healthier life and change your habits. I, personally, completely stopped drinking after 30th May 2020 until I reached my goal weight. I am an emotional person and maybe many of you can resonate with me that anything we do, we do it in extreme. So, I made a conscious decision to completely stop alcohol and junk food consumption; and never cheated on my diet plan.
   How does it help?
   You may find it difficult initially but eventually, you’ll learn self-control and will be able to modify your food habits in the long run.
4. Choose wisely who and what you follow on social media
   I am a food lover. So, naturally, I have been following a lot of food bloggers on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. When I decided to lose weight, I unfollowed the food channels and rather started following health, fitness, and nutrition-related pages and hashtags related to health and fitness.
   How does it help?
   Whether we admit it or not social media has a great influence on our lives. What we see or the kind of news we get through social media widely affects our moods and actions. By seeing fitness pages and weight transformations of other people you feel motivated to stay dedicated to your weight loss goal.
5. Find a Nutritionist and a Fitness Instructor
   First, let’s discuss why you need a nutritionist. Here’s why:

• To help you lose weight in a healthy & safe manner
• Nutritionist will plan the meals in a way that doesn’t cause any nutritional deficiency
• Nutritionist will plan meals by keeping in mind specific medical conditions like diabetes in my case.
  How does it help?
  It also works as an external motivational factor. The nutritionist tracks your food intake and when you are feeling low and feel like quitting, your nutritionist can support you in several ways like modifying your diet plan. They can keep your diet plans interesting enough by understanding your taste and providing healthier options accordingly. So, in your nutritionist, you can find a companion who can support you through your weight loss journey.

Secondly, how to choose a fitness instructor?

• Understand that someone who is a bodybuilder doesn’t necessarily become a good fitness trainer.
• Choose someone with experience in training people for weight loss
• Choose someone who understands different kinds of sports and exercises, so that eventually he can help you choose what kind of physical activity do you enjoy and guide you accordingly. E.g. my exercise routine started with HIIT, and now it is a combination of HIIT, yoga, breathing exercises, and weight lifting.
• Do check certifications. My fitness trainer is ACE-certified (American Council of Exercise)
• It would be great if he also understands pain/injury management or physiotherapy.
• Now, let’s talk about why you need a fitness instructor for weight loss?
• Helps understand where to start
• Helps you learn how to exercise on your own. Like in my case I have hardly ever followed an exercise routine before I decided to lose weight. So, it was really great to have someone to guide me.

6. Create a WhatsApp group with your nutritionist
   This way you can send pictures of every meal and drink that you consume throughout the day. Also, measure weight every morning and share so that your nutritionist can understand the impact of the diet he/she has given you.
   How does it help?
   It works as a self-check on your dietary habits and a daily audit which will motivate you to not cheat on your diet plan.
7. Find your favorite sport/ physical activity
   Different people may like different physical activities. Like some may enjoy working out in a gym, some may like to do swimming or other outdoor activities like cycling, etc., or dancing or yoga for flexibility and strength.
   It is also possible that you may get bored of a particular exercise form and may lose motivation to carry on. This usually happens when you are overambitious. Don’t drain yourself. That’s the way to go about it, to be able to sustain it in the long run. Also, feel free to switch and adapt to new forms of physical activities whenever needed.
8. Find a General Physician
   Many people make this mistake that in order to lose weight they sometimes unknowingly damage their own health. So, please stay away from fad diets or crash diets. These diet plans only end up making one feel drained due to nutritional deficiencies and starving. Consulting a GP before and during your weight loss journey can help you stay updated with your current health status.
   New diet plans even when you are taking help from a nutritionist can affect your health especially when you already have health conditions like high or low BP, diabetes, etc. A GP can easily diagnose these problems by understanding the symptoms you have been experiencing which can be as simple as fatigue and mood swings. You may sometimes feel that fatigue is because of the increased physical activity which can be true but by consulting a GP you can be doubly sure about your health and prevent any serious long-term damage.
   Also, when someone is a smoker or regular drinker and they stop these habits to achieve better health; they may experience sudden changes in their body like increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, low energy, disturbed sleep, and so on. A GP will be able to guide you on how you can control cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
9. Keep yourself motivated & find friends who are fitness lovers
   Find ways to announce and document your fitness journey. Like I started posting my diet food pictures and kept clicking and posting pictures of myself on social media. So, whenever I would open Facebook or Instagram, the notifications on my pictures were like a constant reminder and motivation for me. This was a self-assurance that excess weight will not be a problem in my life anymore because my goal now is to lead a healthy life and I am taking every little step every single day that is needed to achieve this goal.
   Also, I started sharing my weight loss goals and exercise routines with my friends who are into fitness. Their insights and experiences helped me understand what more could I do and what more options could I explore. It also helps build a healthy competition.
10. Seek support from family to achieve your weight loss goal
    Last but definitely not least, help your family understand your new diet plan and lifestyle changes. When you have been eating and living a certain way all your life, it may take some time for your family to accept a sudden change in eating habits when you embark on your weight loss journey.

Take control of your health. It’s never too late to start!

Please feel free to connect with me for any queries at [email protected]. I have also published videos related to my weight loss journey on YouTube. If you would like to watch please follow this link – http://bit.ly/3vbMRYj.

This post is a response to a query someone sent. Since it requires some study I thought I would share my findings, which are as follows. Everything that I am citing from others is in purple and my writing remains in black.

Akathisia (Greek “not to sit”) is an extrapyramidal movement disorder consisting of difficulty in staying still and a subjective sense of restlessness. It is a recognised side effect of antipsychotic and antiemetic drugs but may also be caused by other widely prescribed drugs such as antidepressants (Akagi and Kumar, 2002). Citing further research Sharma, Guski et al (2016) note that ‘Akathisia is an extreme form of restlessness, which some patients describe as wanting to “jump out of their skin,” that may increase the risk of suicide and violence’ In plain language Akathisia is a kind of trembling which individuals on antidepressants may experience, which makes them very agitated, restless, and even suicidal (Healy, 2003, p.72), and homicidal.

Antidepressants and their uses

Antidepressants are used to treat several conditions. They include, but are not limited to: depression, generalized anxiety disorder, agitation, obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD), manic-depressive disorders, childhood enuresis (bedwetting), major depressive disorder, diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain, neuropathic pain, social anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) etc says Ogbru. This of course is a diagnostic view of the matter and does not necessarily talk about whether antidepressants really help someone deal with their depression. So how do we figure this out? For those who have great faith in the efficacy of psychiatric medication some of the following points are noteworthy. It may be pointed out that these is coming from an implausible source- a psychiatrist! People seek out psychiatric treatments as ways out of their suffering hoping medication is going to rid them off their socially produced suffering. How does this come about- how can something which occurs as a response to their social living be dealt with by chemicals? Of course there is a complicated pathway via which people come to believe in the efficacy of drug treatments and is not the subject of this post. Instead I maintain my focus on antidepressants and their side-effects, in particular akathisia.

Another aside, about clinical trials. The average intelligent person is far removed from the world of drugs and pharmaceutical operations. Instead their focus is on accepting their situations as truthful medical diagnoses and attempts at maintaining drug compliance in the faith and hope that science is working in their favour and best interests. Clinical trials or randomized clinical trials (RCTs) are therefore taken as the gold standard for new drug and their development and few have the ability to read beyond the rhetoric of pharma companies. In this context psychiatrist Joanna Moncrieff writes this piece about drugs trials of antidepressants. Here is a brief excerpt- “Whatever the reason, STAR-D suggests that in real life situations (which the STAR-D mimicked better than other trials) people taking antidepressants do not do very well. In fact, given that for the vast majority of people depression is a naturally remitting condition, it is difficult to believe that people treated with antidepressants do any better than people who are offered no treatment at all.” To simplify this language: Moncrieff is saying that depression is not a permanent state and people get well even on their own, by other means. So it becomes difficult to believe that people who are not given any treatment are worse off than those who are treated. In other words taking medication for depression is not necessarily useful. You can also hear this podcast in her voice. which sheds further light on her work, ideas and findings.

Side effects of antidepressants (or SSRIs)

As the title of this post suggests antidepressants, of which SSRIs are one major variant, often have side effects of diverse sorts, and akathisia is only one among them. Antidepressants may cause withdrawal symptoms if abruptly discontinued. Withdrawal symptoms include nausea, vomiting,  dizziness, headache, irritability, sleep disturbance, nightmares, psychosis, and seizures, according to this site. Here I would also like to share another piece I wrote on my own blog sometime ago, which talks about SSRIs and brain damage, which includes a video interview with some doctor that I forget for now. And here again is another article that is not only a bit more technical but also talks about increased suicide risk due to SSRIs.

So the long and short of it is that taking antidepressants may be approached with caution for it is likely to increase the risk of other forms of debility, sexual dysfunction and other side-effects or outcomes which can be difficult to deal with in the long term. I am leaving you with further resources to read : by Robert Whitaker, and the absolutely brilliant blog by psychiatrist David Healy, which has scores of articles about suicide, side effects of different SSRIs, about sexual dysfunction disorder and so forth.

Registration will open on 1st March-2021

Please convey this message to your parents and senior citizen members and People above 45 with co-morbidities on How to register for COVID Vaccine

◐ Use Co-Win app, Aarogya Setu app or log on to cowin.gov.in (Version 2.0)

◐ Enter your mobile number

◐ Get an OTP to create your account

◐ Fill in your name, age, gender and upload an identity document

◐ If 45+, upload doctor’s certificate as comorbidity proof

◐ Choose centre, date

◐ Up to 4 appointments can be made by one mobile number

Other options are also available for senior citizens who are not tech-savvy.

They can go to common service centres and get themselves registered.

A call centre number 1075 can also be availed for the same.

PIB on Saturday, 27th February, flagged a fake website impersonating as the official Co-Win App ahead of the second phase of vaccination in which prospective beneficiaries will be allowed to register themselves for vaccination. Please see the PIB Fact Check tweet below:

Please remember that Fake Sites are created to extract crucial Personal Information from respondents which can lead to personal loss

Updated up to 28th February Noon. More details will be available on and after 1st March 2021

What is the recommended dose and schedule?
Do you need to take it even if you had Corona?
How many days after getting vaccine, would I develop protection?
How long will the vaccine provide immunity?
When is the Corona vaccine likely to be available in India?

These and many more questions answered.

1. What is the recommended dose and schedule?
   Two doses given 21 days or 28 days apart depending on vaccine used.
2. What if I take only one dose?
   One dose will give you only partial protection of maybe 60-80% and will not last long enough. For complete protection you must take two doses at recommended intervals.
3. What if I forget to take the second dose? Should I take the first again?
   Just take the second dose at the earliest. No need to repeat the first dose.
4. Are both doses same?
   In most of the vaccines it will be the same dose given twice. However, Sputnik- V vaccine has both doses as different vector viruses, so will be marked as dose 1 and 2. Oxford-AZ vaccine may also come out with first dose as half dose.
5. Do you need to take it even if you had Corona? After how many days of getting cured?
   Yes. But that will be last in the priority list. You can let others take who probably need more than you. You might need it earlier if you did not develop an antibody response.
6. Can it be administered to an individual who has received plasma as treatment for Covid?
   The donor plasma contains anti Covid-19 antibodies and may suppress the immune response to the vaccine. As it is, those who have recovered from Covid-19 may not need the vaccine in the early phases.
7. Can a pregnant lady or a lactating mother take the vaccine?
   No company has yet tested the vaccine in pregnancy. CDC has advised against giving the vaccine to pregnant and lactating mothers. UK authorities have advised women not to get pregnant for two months after the shot. Since the vaccines available till now are not live vaccines, it should not cause any problem if given inadvertently.
8. Can a diabetic patient take the vaccine?
   Yes, in fact diabetes has been established as a risk factor for severe disease and all diabetic patients must get vaccinated on priority.
9. If offered a choice of vaccines, which one should I take?
   All vaccines are offering equal efficacy although local reactions may be different. Take whatever available. Think positive that at least you are being offered a vaccine ahead of others. Indian manufactured vaccines will be more suitable for our population as they are cheaper and can be kept at 2-8 degree Celsius. The mRNA vaccines require a storing temp of -70 (Pfizer) and -20 (Moderna) which may be difficult to maintain in summer months.
10. How many days after getting vaccine, would I develop protection?
    It takes time for your body to build protection after any vaccination. COVID-19 vaccines that require 2 shots may not protect you until a week or two after your second shot.
11. How long will the vaccine provide immunity?
    It is a new virus, new technology vaccine, so we don’t know. After follow-ups of these vaccinated population and their antibodies for a couple of years, we would be wiser. The need for boosters and when will they be required, will be decided after these follow ups and mathematical modelling.
12. Children of what age can be vaccinated? Is the dose same as adults or lesser dose to be given?
    Trials done till now have been for adults above 18 only. Now trials for children above 12 have started. Doses will be decided only after trials are done on younger children and infants.
13. Can it be given to immunocompromised individuals?
    The mRNA vaccine and inactivated vaccines are safe. AZ and Sputnik-V adenovirus vector vaccines are also safe as they are nonreplicating viral vector vaccines. Live vaccines and replicating viral vector vaccines will have to be avoided.
14. What are the side effects expected?
    The side effects reported by the trial population are mostly mild Covid like symptoms like some fever and fatigue. Local injection site pain and induration is also reported. Reports of transverse myelitis and facial palsy have not been found to be related to the vaccine. Generally, all vaccines are safe. Although these vaccines have been made in record time, the testing methodology and procedures have not been compromised.
15. I am allergic to egg. Can I take the vaccine?
    Egg cell lines are not used for production of these vaccines. They can be taken safely even if you are allergic to egg.
16. I heard that it has pig or monkey products? I am a pure Vegetarian.
    The new vaccines manufactured these days are devoid of any such products.
17. In the past vaccines have been linked to Autism. What about these?
    In 1985 there was a paper linking MMR with autism. Millions of children followed up after that have conclusively proven that there is no relationship between vaccines and autism. All vaccines are extremely safe with minimal temporary side effects.
18. There are messages going around that mRNA from vaccine gets incorporated into the human genome and alter our genetic structure. Is that true?
    mRNA vaccine carries a message to the cell to produce spike protein which induces antibody production. It does what it is directed to do. Till date there have been no adverse events reported.
19. What is the interaction of alcohol and Covid vaccine?
    Excessive alcohol can reduce the immune responses to vaccines. Since Russians are known for heavy drinking, their government has advised to avoid drinking two weeks prior to first dose and 6 weeks after the second dose. The Sputnik vaccine is given as two doses 21 days apart. Occasional glass of wine or beer will not interfere with the immune response.
20. Soon the virus will mutate and we will need another vaccine. Should we not wait?
    Till now the virus has not shown tendency to mutate like the Flu virus. Moreover, the vaccines being developed have taken this into consideration and should still work.
21. What if I do not want to take the vaccine? Will it be made mandatory?
    In majority of countries, it will not be mandatory. You have to choose between the new viral disease with no specific treatment and a new vaccine. Choice is yours. As initially there will be a huge demand supply gap, by not taking a vaccine you can help others.
22. Can I roam around without a mask once I am vaccinated?
    No, not as of now. One may do so only when the majority of the population has either got the disease or received the vaccine. This means the population has developed herd immunity.
23. Are newer and better Covid vaccines expected in near future?
    As of December 2020, more than 250 vaccines are under trial in different phases. A lot of research is underway to develop newer delivery methods also. Nasal spray vaccine is probably the most promising. A multi dose nasal spray delivery device can be very convenient and economical. It will produce local IgA antibodies and block the virus at entry itself. It will reduce nasal colonisation and thus prevent transmission of disease also. Unfortunately, since it will be a live vaccine, it will need maximum and most stringent trials and thus will take longest time to hit the market. Covid-19 is still a new disease and we are still learning. The facts mentioned above are as of 14 December 2020. Please re-check the facts before taking a Covid vaccine shot.

For specific questions about India and much much more, go to the source below

https://wholisticwellnessspace.wordpress.com/2020/12/30/frequently-asked-questions-on-covid-vaccines/