Five Ways You Can Cope With Depression Related to COVID-19
If your mental health has taken a blow for the past couple of weeks, you are not alone.
Attention, if you feeling suicidal call 1-800-273-TALK in the U.S. or visit IASP or Suicide.org to find a helpline in your country.
Since the start of COVID-19, the depression rate has increased. You must understand that this is normal. We are currently living in uncertain times and stress isn’t helping with mental health. Here are a few things you can do to help combat depression.
Limit your news consumption
You want to stay informed but don’t overdo it. Avoid watching the news and social media news posts the entire day. You can disconnect yourself from social media for a week and you wouldn’t have missed a thing. Several influencers, such as Jacksepticeye and Jessie Paege, have taken several social media breaks throughout the year and come to the realization that all the time they spent away, they felt better and didn’t miss much. Replace the news with a Netflix show, or finally read that book you’ve been postponing.
take care of your mental health. disconnect from social media. emmerse in your favorite activities. rest. be with people who fill your cup; who nurture you, love you and embrace you. it’s ok to take breaks. it’s ok to not be ok. come back stronger for yourself.
— melanie ☾ (@rootedwithsoul) August 18, 2020
Mind your thoughts
When we are feeling down, our minds will be fueled by negative thoughts. It is essential to understand that they probably aren’t true. You need to balance your thoughts. For every failure you think you’ve done, remember every success. For everything you didn’t do, remember your accomplishments. Treat yourself with kindness. You are human and bound to have imperfections. See those imperfections as a way of becoming better. Don’t focus so much on the bad but rather on the good. You could try getting into meditation.
View this post on Instagram
Move your body
When you work out or eat or make an accomplishment, our body produces endorphins. Endorphins alleviate pain and stress. So, turn on the radio put on your favorite jam, and get moving. Dance all over your room, it’s your own disco. Try doing yoga. You don’t have to leave the safety of your home to do it. There are several apps that will teach you for free and many how-to YouTube videos for yoga for beginners.
Keep a routine
The pandemic has taken your daily routine and thrown it out the window. Before you would wake up at 6, be on your way to work around 7, then be at work for 8 hours and come back. You had a routine, now you don’t. Make a routine, nothing extravagant, go to bed at the same time every night, wake up at the same time, take a shower, eat and set a goal for the day. In order to keep your focus, you could try the forest app. Not only will it make it impossible for you to use other apps on your phone while you are doing a task but it will plant a tree seed in real life! That’s a win-win situation. You finished a task and planted a tree.
Avoid Unhealthy Coping
Don’t skip meals and don’t abuse the consumption of prescription drugs or alcohol. As tempting as it in order to stop worrying about the loneliness, the financial situation, and stress, do not overuse anythng as a gateway. They will give you temporary relief but in the long run, they can worsen your depression. Eat three times per day, go out for a walk and journal. Glitter has launched a 30-day journal at myselflovedaily.com in print and digital that can keep your thoughts positive.
Don’t be afraid to seek help. A good place to start is your local health care provider, they can provide you with help-lines. You can talk to your friends, join a zoom call. Take care of yourself, be kind to yourself and everyone around you. Many are in the same situation. Be safe.
