Update: here’s the companion video to this blog post
In times of major conflict, issues like uncertainty, anxiety, depression, and grief tend to plague all of us. Experts are finding this is certainly true as we progress into Week 7590 of this global pandemic. As someone who prides himself in trying to help others find healthier ways to cope and make sense of the world around them, I wanted to write down what I’d call the “#NewRules of Quarantining.” Here are four tips on how to handle these mental health issues as they come up:
- Check in with yourself. So many of you are working on the front lines and are seeing and experiencing things that may be hard to process. It’s important to take some time to check in with yourself – doing so can help you recognize what’s really bothering you and how to move through it.
- Self-care. Life has become extremely stressful for many of us, and taking care of others, while rewarding, can limit the amount that we ensure our own safety and health. Whether it be meditating, doing yoga, taking a walk around the block (while socially distancing from others), talking on the phone with a friend, or even drawing a bath and allowing yourself to relax, self-care allows us to take care of ourselves, which, in turn, helps us take care of others.
- Remember what is in your control. As anxiety and uncertainty grip us even tighter, remember to take stock of the things that still are within your control. Anxiety can lead us to believe that everything around us is for naught – that things seem out of our control. During these times, focus on the things that you can count on: a friend, coworker, family member, pet, or someone/something else that gives you joy. Those constants have the ability to ground us and help us from spiraling out.
- Grieve in your own way. As this virus continues to ravage the world, more people we know and love may succumb to circumstances out of our control. When grieving the deaths of others, whether or not we are ready, it’s important to understand that what works for one person may not necessarily work for another – we each have our own way of grieving. It’s important to understand and respect this, especially during this time.
In addition to these tips, here are some resources that can help you make sense of this new and dynamic situation around us:
- COVID-19: Managing Stress in this Anxious Time
- Taking Care of Your Behavioral Health During an Infectious Disease Outbreak
- Five Ways to View Coverage of the Coronavirus
- Self-care Advice for health-care Providers During COVID-19
- Grief and COVID-19: Mourning our Bygone Lives
- Grief and COVID-19: Saying Goodbye in the Age of Physical Distancing
- Finding Local Mental Health Resources During the COVID-19 Crisis
- Advice for Caregivers of Children with Disabilities in the Era of COVID-19
Remember, if you’re in a crisis and need to speak with someone immediately, call the NAMI Crisis Line at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), text “HOME” to 741741, or reach the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health during this crisis!