The global health crisis has taken a toll on everyone around the globe. But with much of your attention turned towards maintaining your physical health, you might end up neglecting your mental health. It’s normal to experience feelings of anxiety, frustration, and powerlessness during this time. Understanding them and discovering their triggers can help you better cope with the situation.
Managing your mental health and emotional well-being during a crisis will keep you from feeling helpless. Additionally, it keeps you focused on more important matters, such as how to adapt to the new normal. Here are some of the ways you can keep your anxieties at bay. If these don’t help, consider seeking out professional help, like consulting a counselor or visiting a mental health rehab facility.
Take a break from the news.
For most, the current news cycle is a source of anxiety. Give yourself a break from the constant barrage of new information. If you still want to keep informed, there are other ways to do so.
- Follow a reputable news source on social media, like Twitter. This allows you to wade through the day’s news without having to read every article. Choose to read those that only apply to you and others that interest you.
- Set a schedule for when you consume news. This will help you go about your day without being distracted by new worries. Additionally, limiting the time you use to absorb new information gives you a break from distressing updates.
Manage emotions with physical activities.
Most don’t realize that emotional distress has physical consequences. Shortness of breath, for example, is often a result of intense panic or anxiety. Manage your stressors with physical activities.
- Try meditating once a day. Deep breathing exercises increase the supply of oxygen to your brain which can promote calmness.
- Take up yoga at home. There are several tutorials for beginners available online. The simple exercises combine controlled breathing and meditative practices, both of which can help relieve stress.
Get to know yourself better.
No one knows you better than yourself. Get to know yourself better while you’re stuck at home to understand how you can better care for yourself.
- Write down your fears and triggers in a journal. This helps you familiarize yourself with stressors that can incite an anxiety attack.
- Make a schedule for yourself. Consider creating a new routine for yourself to better manage your mental health and emotional well-being. It can be as simple as reminders on when to eat or which chores to accomplish that day.
- Consult with a medical professional online. These days, mental health professionals have made their services available through online channels. Schedule an appointment with a counselor to talk about what you’re going through.
There is nothing wrong with not being “okay” right now. These trying times are unprecedented and no one knows how to truly cope with it. Just remember that there are plenty of options available to you. If you are having a hard time, don’t be afraid of reaching out to someone.
