COVID-19 Mental Health Awareness Tips

The Coronavirus pandemic has affected the entire world. Emotions of fear and anxiety continue to develop in adults and children. Social distancing, combined with increased mortality rates and civil unrest, has left people to feel divided and stressed. According to the CDC, “40% of U.S adults reporting struggling with mental health and substance abuse”. Mental Health Awareness should be put at the forefront of surviving this pandemic. Here are some tips to help you stay mentally strong and focused.

Stay In Contact With Friends And Family.

Positive and supportive conversations between friends and family can help brighten your day. Social distancing doesn’t mean you have to be lonely. You can interact with your loved ones through phones, social media, and virtual communication technologies. You can even watch a movie together using apps such as Facebook and Airtime.

Try a New Hobby

Now is the perfect time to try new things. Add some excitement into your life with a new hobby. Expressing your anxiety through creativity is an excellent release. Besides, you may find something that you’re good at and enjoy doing.

Laugh Through The Pain

Hold on to your sense of humor. Laughter helps reduce anxiety. Watch funny videos and movies online or make your own jokes and funny content.

Fast

No, It doesn’t have to be food! Fast from anything you’ve been over-consuming. Disconnecting yourself from your personal vices is like pressing the refresh button. Spend your time learning something new and paying attention to how you feel during your fast.

Be Nice To Your Body

Taking care of your body is just as important as taking care of it mentally. Pay attention to how you feel after you feed your body. If the food your consuming caused you to feel low on energy, then it’s time to make a diet change. Another way to boost your entry is through exercise. Having more energy will help prevent you from sleeping under or over the recommended  8 hours. Always talk and think positively about yourself. The mind is potent. If your not sure what to say to cheer yourself up, listen to affirmations throughout your day or sleep.

Admit It To Yourself

Stop trying to ignore the fact that you are stressed out. The pandemic affected the entire world; we’re all in this together. You won’t be able to begin healing before you admit your pain. Take 10-30 minutes out of your day when you first wake up before you go to bed to meditate. You’ll have the opportunity to plan for and evaluate your day. Incorporating setting daily and personal goals for yourself that you can easily achieve. For instance, there may be a closet you really wanted to clean or a topic you wanted to learn about.  If your feeling being to worsen, don’t be afraid to get support. Join a peer support group, talk to a therapist, or even a friend or family member that understands you.