Due to the coronavirus pandemic, people are confined in their homes. There is fear everywhere; new COVID-19 cases keep coming daily. The government has put restrictions on movement to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Many people are working from home, and many are facing temporary unemployment. As schools are closed, children are homeschooled. There is a lack of physical contact with other family members, friends as well as colleagues. It is not easy to adapt to these changes, and we all are worried about the health of our loved ones. This can be a challenging phase for people who are struggling with mental health conditions.
We often hear advice on how to be physically healthy in the pandemic, like washing your hands frequently, wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, etc. But not many recommendations are given on how to keep yourself mentally healthy during this tough period.
Let's first see how the mental health of people is suffering due to pandemic:
Stress
Since the coronavirus is highly contagious, people are worried about how they will save themselves from it and how to make ends meet if they don't go out and earn money.
There are so many problems adding to the stress, such as the economy is going down, small businesses are suffering adversely, and there is a lot of uncertainty for the future.
No Routine
People who have to take care of children while working from home find it really hard to concentrate on work when their children constantly demand attention. People refrain from taking their children to parks because of the fear of coronavirus. Taking care of the home and office responsibilities without any fixed working timings leaves people exhausted physically and mentally.
Anxiety Due To Staying Inside
This is called cabin fever. When people have o stay indoor for an extended period of time, they feel restless. Some people feel anxious while some feel bored. All these emotions affect the mental health of a person.
Lack of Social Contact
As we know, humans need social contact to survive. Lack of social contact declines the mental health of a person. Not everyone has close friends and family members that can help a person cope with negative emotions. Loneliness makes a person depressed.
Lack of Physical Activity
Gyms are closed. People don't go out much because of fear of contracting the virus. Working out regularly is a coping skill for many. Now there are fewer opportunities to work outside the home, and physical activity contributes to stress.
Previous episodes of depression
If you suffer from depression or anxiety, then the pandemic situation can intensify your emotions. The current situation is difficult for those who struggled with mental health before.
Let's see how you can maintain good mental health in current times
Be In Contact With Your Loved Ones
When you can't be physically around your loved ones, you can call them, video call them. It will uplift your mood and feel some people deeply care for you. You can use social media to get in touch with those who spread positivity. Never comment on anything negative on anybody's post. Uplift others who are feeling depressed or anxious. You can also join online forums where you can speak to people in your community. Help an old neighbor in bringing groceries from the store. You will feel positive.
Don't Consume Negative News.
You have to be selective about what you feed your mind. Stay informed, but don't feed yourself negative news every single day. Media reports new cases and fatalities, which cause distress and affect your psychological well-being.
Limit your time of watching news channels to not more than thirty minutes a day. The more negative news you will, the more you will feel anxious. Also, be mindful of your social media time. When we scroll through social media endlessly, it drains our mental strength, be aware of our screen time, limits it if it's more than an hour. In addition to that, don't waste your social media time on negative news, instead follow people who motivate you; follow channels that spread positivity.
Stay Physically Active
Physical activity not only keeps the body fit but keeps mental health in check. Exercise at home; you don't need any equipment; follow programs that teach bodyweight moves. There are so many home workouts available on the internet for free; utilize them. If it's safe where you live, you can go out for a walk. But if you can't go out, you can work out even in your living room.
Focus on things under your control
Many things are not under your control; there is no point in worrying about them. Focus on things that you can control, like preventive measures to keep yourself safe. Talk to your friends and family members; help them reduce their stress, pay attention to how much time you spend on social media.
Learn a New Hobby
If you have time, you can learn a new hobby. There are many online courses available; you need to step outside to learn something new. You can organize your house; it gives mental peace when your space is neat and organized.
Meditation and Positive Thinking
Meditation can greatly help a person going through any mental illness. Sit in a quiet place, close your eyes, and focus on your breathing. Take deep breaths. Sitting like this for even 15 minutes can relax your mind. Positive thinking is a habit; you have to train your mind to think positively; it can help you immensely.
Write a Journal
Writing a journal can benefit you in more ways than you can think. If you are feeling negative, write your thoughts down, it will help you relieve the stress. Don't write negative things, but also write positive things as well. Make it a habit to write at least 5 things you are grateful for. This can be anything, however small it seems. Writing a journal gives a direction to your mind, and you realize things can get better.
Find Support
If you feel your mental health is declining and nothing is helping, then find support. You can talk to a psychologist, try online therapy, and take professional help via video chat. Know that many people feel like this, and help is available.
Final Words
Mental health during the time of pandemic is an important issue. Many people struggle with mental health problems such as depression and anxiety because there is a drastic change in their daily routine. To cope with mental illness in the time of the pandemic, people should stay connected with their loved ones via calls and video chat. Apart from that, it's important to consume positive news, practice meditation, and don't ignore your physical health.
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