Between the alarming headlines and extreme measures meant to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the coronavirus can bring on added, unwanted stress and anxiety for anyone.
There are several strategies that be can be effective to help one with or without a mental health issue to cope and navigate through it, while maintaining a healthy mental well-being amid the pandemic.
Below are five tips from Chris Cohn, founder of Scottsdale Recovery Center, to help keep a strong and clear headspace during a stressful time.
Understand it will pass. It’s completely normal and common to experience stress, anxiety and depression when a global infectious disease impacts your everyday life. It’s important to remember that the outbreak will eventually pass and there are ways to minimize your risk and being affected, like washing your hands and practicing basic personal hygiene.
Know you’re not alone. For those struggling with mental health illnesses, it might be hard to deal with changes to your daily routine. Remember that everyone is affected by the same unprecedented situation and it’s altering everyone’s day-to-day lives and routines. This can help ease the anxiety.
Stay connected. Self-isolation out of fear can be detrimental, particularly for those with a mental illness. It’s essential to stay connected with friends and family through difficult times because isolation can create an overwhelming feeling of loneliness. Staying connected can be as simple as a phone call, text or video chat.
Manage your media diet. Avoid becoming consumed with every headline in the news because it can trigger anxiety, stress or depression. While its important to be informed, try not to fixate on it. Moderation is key with the amount of time spent following the news and on social media.
Be mindfulness. It might feel like life is out of control and is spinning a million miles per hour. Try to focus your mind and efforts on the things that are within your control, such as personal hygiene. That’ll help reduce your anxiety and stress. Another great way to do this is through meditation and other mindfulness exercises, like yoga.
Since 2008, Scottsdale Recovery Center has served the needs of people nationwide searching for a successful solution to remove active alcohol, opioid, cocaine and other addictions to enjoy the benefits of living drug-free. For more information, visit www.scottsdalerecovery.com.
