Mental Maintenance in the Midst of a Pandemic
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has gripped the world and every citizen of this planet is within its grasp. Governments around the globe are taking unprecedented actions in order to protect the health and wellbeing of their citizens with many countries going into lockdown to slow the spread of the threat this virus poses to humanity.
Even though we are all beginning to understand the severity of the situation we humans are facing, this knowledge does little to comfort us as the crisis continues. As time goes on many of us will feel the bite of loneliness, the inflammation of frustration and the anguish of anxiety. While we are in lockdown the maintenance of our mental health is going to become an essential aspect of our daily lives.
So, what can we do to shield us from sinking into loneliness and to stave off our spiralling anxiety? Here you will find a list of suggestions to aid in the protection of your mental health.
Reduce or stop watching the news
The news tends to focus more on the negative aspects of current events so it is no wonder why you may feel a rising sense of dread when you watch for too long. Ask a friend or (chosen) family member to notify you of any important announcements or updates. That way you will be informed only of the essential information that you need to know and you can keep your engagement with the news to a minimum protecting yourself in the process. Consider deleting Twitter, even if only temporarily, as this social media platform in particular is more difficult to filter out news stories
Do stress relieving activities
This one may be more difficult than it seems if you are unaware of what relaxes you. A lot of people will be espousing the benefits of yoga, meditation and exercise which are all worthy competitors for your time and attention. There is no one size fits all when it comes to stress and anxiety relief. There are no right or wrong suggestions here, only you can be the judge of what works for you and what doesn’t. Try out different activities and reflect upon how you feel after, pay specific attention to how you feel in your body, to find the activity that gets the gold in managing your anxiety. Who knows, maybe playing 20 mins of Mortal Kombat makes you feel more relaxed than an hour of yoga ever did! An important note for this is to try and vary your stress relieving activities. Novelty is important for our mental health and when you depend too heavily on one activity, without mixing it up, it is likely that it will start to lose the potency it once had. As they say, variety is the spice of life!
Avoid over using alcohol or other drugs
Using alcohol and drugs recreationally can relieve stress however, they are also detrimental to our health if abused. If you have found yourself imbibing every day (or several times a day) try to cut down or set aside a couple of days a week where you don’t have a drink or use your substance of choice. None of us are immune to alcohol and drug dependency and it can sneak up on you. The problem is that once a dependency has taken hold it can be incredibly challenging to overcome. The last thing you want is to find that you have survived this pandemic but are now left a nasty new habit.
If you do suffer from alcohol or substance dependency and have been abusing either (or both) for a long period of time continue to use your substance as normal. Withdrawal from alcohol or certain drugs can be fatal. Abstinence or reduction should only be attempted after seeking medical advice from your GP and with professional support.
Stay connected
Humans are social creatures and many of us may actually be surprised by just how much we miss or crave human interaction. Arrange regular check ins, phone calls and video calls with friends, family, work colleagues or even support organisations. This is particularly important if you live alone as, for many, the feeling of loneliness will become unbearable. If you don’t have anyone in your life that you can contact regularly try joining an online class or social media group where you can find connection to others. If you can combine these calls with a stress relieving activity (or maybe this is the stress relieving activity – never underestimate the soothing powers of a chat and a cup of tea!) then you are well on your way to keeping your mental health in check.
Take regular screen breaks
Whether you are staying in the house because of lockdown or choosing to self-isolate chances are you are going to be spending a lot of time in front of a screen. This suggestion is particularly important for people who are working from home because now both your work life and social life will involve having to use a screen. Alternatively, you may be someone who does not use a lot of technology and keeps screen time to a minimum so you may find the increased screen time quite tiring or even painful! Give your eyes a rest once in a while: go for a walk; dust off the board games; put on a record; pick up a book; or make a phone call. There was a time before screens and people found ways to keep themselves occupied - and sane!
Watch your energy levels
A continuation of the latter point. Now that both our professional and social lives are becoming centralised to our computers and smart devices be careful not to over do it. This is quite important if you are a more introverted person. Socialising via phone and video still involves you engaging mentally, physically and empathically with others and it may take you by surprise just how draining it can be and lead you to feel exhausted. If you are struggling with your anxiety or mental health, keeping your energy levels up is vital as we are more prone to becoming overwhelmed when we are tired.
Seek Counselling
Finally, if you find that even after following the above suggestions you feel your mental health is deteriorating then you may want to consider speaking with a counsellor. All counsellors (whether in private practice or volunteering for a charity) have moved to seeing clients over the phone and via online platforms and many are offering their services at reduced rates during the current pandemic. Counselling has never been more accessible or affordable! Keep in mind that embarking upon the counselling journey is a very personal decision that requires a great deal of thought and there are many things to consider before undertaking that adventure. We have done a separate blog post on things to consider when exploring counselling online.
The battle to protect ourselves from deteriorating emotionally has already begun. Protecting and cultivating your mental health is not only beneficial for you but for everyone whose life you touch. During this time of crisis, we may become infected with the virus, or we may have to care for someone who has been infected or been affected by this virus. Right now we are all in a survival scenario and no one knows how the world will look after we come out at the other end. What is clear, is that we need to be more mentally and emotionally resilient in order to face the challenges to come.
In order to be unified during and after this fight we must stay mentally and emotionally healthy. You don’t have to be infected with this virus to feel its consequences. In the days ahead, looking after your mental health will not just be your responsibility but your civic duty.
The LPG Founders