According to an article by Medical News Today, mental health was referred to as an individual’s cognitive, behavioural, and emotional well-being. It encompasses how people think, feel, and behave. Additionally, it has been reported that persons sometimes use the term “mental health” to mean the absence of a mental disorder.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic recession have negatively affected many young persons’ mental health and created new barriers for persons already suffering from mental illness and substance abuse.
It has likely brought many changes to how people live their lives, and with it, uncertainty, financial pressure, and social isolation. Persons may worry about getting sick, how long the pandemic will last, whether they will lose their job, and what the future will bring. Information overload, rumours and misinformation may make their lives feel out of control and make things feel unclear in terms of what to do next. Public health actions, such as social distancing, are necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but they can lead to persons feeling isolated, and may increase stress and anxiety.
Learning to cope with stress in a healthy way will make you, the people you care about, and those around you become more resilient.
Here are six (6) healthy ways to cope with the stress of COVID-19:
Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories including those on social media. While it is good to be informed about what is happening with the pandemic, hearing about the pandemic constantly can become a trigger for stress. Consider limiting news to just a few moments in your day and disconnecting from the phone, tv, and computer screens for a while.
Take care of your body. Even though the time is unsettling make sure to look after your body by performing certain activities such as exercising, mediating, eating healthy and getting proper sleep which will help.
Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy, such as a word search, jigsaw puzzle, crocheting or painting. You might be pleasantly surprised how immersing yourself in a leisurely activity may help bring clarity to another aspect of your life.
Connect with others. It is always good to talk or connect with persons you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling. It will help you to feel less isolated and you may even find validation in the fact that you are not the only one worried about the future.
Connect with your community or faith-based organizations. While social distancing measures are in place, try connecting online, through social media, or by phone or e-mail with a community of people who share the same values as you do. This will help ground your resolve to keep fighting, one day at a time.
Connect with a professional: If you feel that the situation around is affecting you to the point that your thoughts are predominantly negative, do not hesitate to connect with a professional. A trained professional can help you pinpoint the issues that are causing your emotional distress and hold you accountable, as you strive to overcome them.
In these uncertain times, following these six (6) activities would be quite beneficial in maintaining and reducing stress levels, as we try to maneuver our daily movements throughout this pandemic.
Contributed by VP Shauna McLeod
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