Practices such as social distance measures, school and workplace closures, and companies switching to working from home have caused us to face a new reality.
We are social beings, we like to be close to people and bond, but having to change this behavior and being in the process of isolation creates a feeling of loneliness.
Even though life may feel like it has stopped, we can learn how to continue our lives and maintain a certain perspective.
Being prepared, staying calm, checking in on the health of others, and practicing self-care during these challenging times in history. It will help you get through the moment. Let's not forget that COVID-19 is a temporary illness and life will return to normal again.
Here are some tips to help you take good care of your mental health during the coronavirus outbreak.
Take Your Anxiety Under Control
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Many people, with and without anxiety disorders, feel anxious.
Anxiety is the expectation of thinking deeply and worrying about a subject that may occur in the future. “Because the virus is a virus you can't see and not enough people have been tested, you don't know who the carriers are and so you're hyper-vigilant about other people, the things you touch and the places you go, and that creates more anxiety because there's a real danger but there's uncertainty and knowledge about the virus.” deficiency causes anxiety.”
Seeing others anxious also increases the level of anxiety.
Anxiety is contagious. If you see someone next to you panicking and saying, 'The world is ending,' you start to worry, too, because you don't want to feel like someone who doesn't worry.
This situation is somewhat related to the process of evolution.
For example, a tribe If someone was standing in an open field and one member said he saw a tiger in the distance and started running, the rest of the tribe would follow.
We take cues from others about how to act. While the coronavirus is a real threat, we need to exercise some stoicism: embrace the uncertainty, knowing we can't do everything, and embrace the limitations created by the new normal. Act within it.
Those living with mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder may become even more vulnerable during this epidemic period. For this reason, take your medications in advance.
You can also meet with your therapist through online sessions.
This way, you can stay safe and continue your treatment.
If pandemic anxiety becomes too difficult to manage, you can create an emergency plan with mental health professionals.
Get Angry First, Be Practical Then
This situation is infuriating, so give yourself 15 minutes a day to be angry and then get over it.
Don't see this situation as a doomsday. See it as the new normal. Ask yourself how do I want to live under these limitations? If your family is fueling the situation, limit your conversations with them and talk for 15 minutes or so and move on with your life.
Thinking positive in a disaster is easier said than done.
One of the best ways is to trust science. Rely on what government agencies provide for information. Follow the World Health Organization. Avoid watching the news and looking at social media because facts can be distorted or even exaggerated there. Remind yourself that infectious disease outbreaks are part of our history and this too will pass.
Also, follow reliable news sources once to stay up to date.
New norms are changing every other day, so watch the news only once. Limit your time to half an hour in the morning and half an hour in the evening. This way, you can learn if there is a behavior you need to change. Do not rethink this decision.
If you have children, limit their exposure to the news because this information may be too much for them. Be careful about talking about illness around children, too.
Oversharing, catastrophizing, and even joking about death can traumatize children. It's a scary time for children, but we can see this as a learning moment in history.
Children were cared for and protected during this disaster. It is important for them to feel loved and loved.
You can also help them express their feelings by directing them to do things such as drawing, writing, keeping a diary. Finally, creating a routine for children will help them through this crisis.
Find Ways to Connect and Stay Engaged
Routines for adults and children stuck at home It's important to stay connected.
Stick to your normal routine as much as possible. Maintain your bedtime and wake-up times. If you work from home, wear work clothes. If it's not too crowded, go outside for a while to exercise.
Also be creative about activities you can control at home.
Choose activities that relax you and give you purpose. For example, you can play board games, read, do puzzles or spend time in the bathroom.
Make calling your family and friends a daily routine.
You can call others, send messages, and have video conferences. It would be hopeful to maintain a sense of connection and community during this traumatic time.
Fun activities that will distract your mind reduce the level of the stress hormone cortisol and increase the secretion of feel-good hormones such as serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin. So add some fun to your day by watching cartoons, funny movies and comedy shows. Using humor and entertainment is the most important way of emotional coping.
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