COVID-19 has been a stressful era of 2020. The pandemic has thrashed our normal everyday routine, essential workers are needed more than ever, medical workers are risking their lives to save the infected, students are having to make difficult decisions that will impact their future, and parents are having to make the best choices they can to protect their children. At this point in time, especially for those who already suffer from mental illness, maintaining mental health is severely important.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stress during a pandemic can cause fear and worry for health, financial stability, and loss of support services. It can also cause sleep or eating patterns to change, worsening in mental health and chronic health problems, and increase use of substances such as drugs or alcohol.
Here are some ways to help you and your loved one’s cope with COVID-19 and maintain healthy, positive mental health.
Keeping yourself active is a great way to occupy your mind and ease depression. Whether cleaning your home or talking a stroll with a mask on or even doing some home exercises in your living room can help ease your mind.
If you’re having anxiety, I find that the best way to soothe it is to talk to someone you love immediately. Holding in anxiety tends to make it worse and last longer, while talking to someone who cares helps alleviate it. If you do not feel comfortable talking to someone close to you, you can reach out to professionals who conduct virtual sessions. Websites like Better Help provide access to specialized psychologists. You can have virtual sessions, call or text your matched psychologist at any time. Or, you can set up a virtual appointment with a counselor at the Student Health and Wellness Center.
Utilize your hands; do something crafty to keep your hands and mind busy. Try doing origami, create homemade soap, and as cliché as it is, try scrapbooking. There are many crafting sites to look up that will help get those creative juices flowing.
Most importantly, and I can’t stress this enough, get some sleep. With the stress of juggling school and activities during the pandemic, sleep is so very important and is one of the few things you can control as of now.
Even though we may feel alone, we are all going through this together. Remember to check up on your friends and loved ones, because they may also be struggling with stress, anxiety and/or depression at this time. Remember you are not alone.
