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Mental Health During Quarantine

Written By: Dylan Shane

Ways to Limit Stress and Anxiety During a Hard Time for the World


To begin, I want to acknowledge the importance of mental health especially during a time we are being faced with right now. With May being Mental Health Awareness Month, I wanted to dedicate a blog on mental health and ways to cope with stress and anxiety during quarantine. If you are someone who often gets overwhelmed, stressed, or anxious or if you are new to these feelings as you are having a hard time adjusting to the new lifestyle we are facing today; something that has become our normal and will be for quite some time, then this blog post is for you and hopefully you can gain at least one new way to improve your mental health.


Mental Health Awareness Month

May is a month dedicated to mental health and each year, the goal is to fight stigma, provide support, educate the public, and advocate for policies that support people with mental illness and their families.

Unfortunately, mental health has been a stigma for many years and it is something we need to change so that people can talk about how they’re feeling without worrying about how society will see them. Society has gotten better over the years, but there is still a very real stigma regarding mental health and mental illness. This cannot be changed until we talk about it. Mental illness does not discriminate, meaning that everyone can be affected by it. It can be in so many different forms and during a time like this, so many people are affected by stress, anxiety and other forms of mental illness. It is so important to acknowledge these feelings and find a way to manage so that we can stay mentally stable during a hard time.



Ways to Cope with Stress During COVID-19

Tips from the CDC, How to Be Kind to Your Mind

PAUSE. Breathe. Notice how you feel

TAKE BREAKS from COVID-19 content

MAKE TIME for sleep and exercise

REACH OUT and stay connected

SEEK HELP if overwhelmed or unsafe


PAUSE

Something as simple as taking a moment to breathe throughout the day can be so beneficial for the mind. They always say if you have a crowded mind, you do not work to your full potential so in the end, you are better off taking a short break from whatever you’re doing

and just breathe, collect your thoughts, and calm down before continuing. Practicing mindfulness or mindfulness meditation can also help people notice how they are feeling and stay relaxed. Oftentimes, people work so hard and so much they never check in on themselves.


TAKE BREAKS From COVID Content

We live in a world where social media has taken over and has so much power over our well being. People are obsessed with getting the perfect picture along with the most views, likes, and retweets that they forget to take a break from social media.

During a time like this, information regarding the pandemic can be found everywhere and it can consume social media and news entirely. Although it is important to stay informed and up to date on the latest news, it is important to step back from COVID content. Not knowing what the next step may be is very overwhelming and scary for millions around the country, but being able to take breaks from the local news or social media can be extremely beneficial for mental health.


MAKE TIME

At first glance, it may seem that social distancing and quarantining at home would allow for more time in areas like work, school, self care, it can actually do the opposite for some people. Personally, I have gained more school work since converting entirely online and sometimes it feels unmanageable. It is important during these times to keep a healthy balance between daily tasks, school or work, and self care. Eating three well balanced meals a day as well as getting at least eight hours of sleep a night is crucial to maintaining a good mental state.


REACH OUT

Social distancing and self quarantine does not mean you are by yourself during this pandemic. This is where social media can be beneficial to one’s mental health.

It is important to stay connected with family and friends during such a tough time whether it be through phone calls, video calls, or social media posts. Some of the most amazing things can be achieved when people work together and although we may feel isolated from the world, we are not alone. Stay connected.



SEEK HELP

I hope some of these tips can be beneficial in maintaining a good mental state, but it is important to note that everyone deals with this differently. These are not meant to treat serious anxiety disorders, I am simply sharing what helps me along with other people I know. Just because we are dealing with a pandemic does not mean that life stops. If you are not feeling okay there are so many ways to seek help. Since the start of the pandemic, therapists and doctors have converted sessions to being online for those who are quarantined and cannot make an appointment in person. If you are a college student, there are many universities that also have resources to help with mental health that have converted to entirely online ZOOM sessions. For more information on this, visit your university website. For those who are not students or do not have personal therapists, there are many mental health and therapy hotlines available for anyone to call at any hour of the day.







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