From midnight tonight, (Thursday, 26 March 2020), South Africa joins a myriad of countries around the world for a lockdown period in an attempt to curb the spread of the coronavirus. 

Bhavna Bharvani, a clinical counsellor based in Hong Kong, told Conde Nast Travel what to expect and how to cope with isolation.

"Expect to go through many different emotional stages. Everyone experiences all of these at some point but not necessarily in the same order."

1. Optimism: This is going to be great. I can finally get to all the side-projects I’ve been wanting to work on, or improve a certain skill, pick up that hobby.

2. Determination: When you can feel that you’re less positive about self-isolation, but you’re determined to keep going and stick to your routine and have a schedule to help you manage the situation.

3. Satisfaction and frustration: You’ll experience times when you’re more productive, and times that you’re less productive, and alternate between moments of satisfaction and periods of frustration.

4. Depression: When you start struggling and feeling, “this is hard”. Boredom might settle in. Your routine or lack of routine might not be working for you anymore. You might experience restlessness that makes it difficult to concentrate. You miss going out and seeing friends and loved ones. You might feel demotivated, hopeless, or feel a sense of despair.

5. Anger: You might experience anger about the situation, the confinement, and get easily irritated by others in your household.

6. Acceptance: When you accept the situation for what it is and carry on doing whatever is in your control and letting go of what is not in your control.

7. Making meaning: Remembering that this move to self-isolate is necessary and that you’re serving humanity and the greater good to help prevent more sickness and death.

Read here how to cope with all of these feelings.

If you are unsure of anything during South Africa's lockdown, phone the Coronavirus Hotline Number: 0800 029 999, or send ‘Hi’ to 0600 123 456 on WhatsApp. Visit OFM’s COVID-19 fact page for the latest news.