How To Protect Your Mental Health During The Lockdown

The sudden changes in our lives, like the abrupt changes that the pandemic has brought us, can affect us both socially and mentally.

These changes are even more apparent once the usual distractions we have in our lives, like our work, friends, and family, are taken away from us, becoming a huge strain on our mental health. Without these distractions, a person could internalize the said changes with a more focused outlook.

And with that, that person could have their mental health damaged based on how they react to what’s happening around them. That said, without a strong mental fortitude, breakdowns could happen. Things like severe anxiety that could lead to panic attacks, depression, and even suicide is not an impossibility.

This is even more concerning for people who already have these illnesses and thus, may have no way to ask the help of a professional because of the social restrictions that the government has imposed. Although that may be the case, there are some things that you can do to avoid having mental breakdowns and such. Hence, here are some things you can do to keep your mental health in shape.

View Your Anxiety as Normal

With all the depressing news around us nowadays, it’s no wonder how some of us are having panic attacks or just overall nervous in general. As someone who’s suffering attacks yourself, you might think that you need to stop being anxious around things. However, keeping your anxiety repressed is not the key here. In fact, treating your anxiety as normal is one way to keep yourself from being too anxious and keep away from having anxiety attacks.

Such feelings are normal, and in fact, it’s one of the most curious aspects of all living things. It’s a kind of bond that we all have and what makes society work in general. If you want to lessen your anxiety, you might want to limit your indulgence in the news in general.

As mentioned earlier, there is a lot of depressing news nowadays, and it will be good for you to limit yourself from consuming them. If you are a non-sufferer of anxiety disorder and you’re suspecting that you are experiencing severe symptoms, it would be a good idea to call for professional help via social media or mental health hotlines.

Look Up Reputable Sources Regarding the Outbreak

As mentioned earlier, most of the news on TV nowadays is depressing, especially with what’s happening worldwide. Unfortunately, however, you can encounter some information regarding the outbreak that is completely fake.

In fact, fake news can be a source of anxiety since it can be fabricated to an extreme extent, which can, of course, fuel your anxiety more. That said, having access to a trustworthy source of information is extremely important for your mental health.

Maintain Your Physical Health

One of the ways you can protect your mental health is to also keep yourself physically healthy. A good way to do this is to always be in bed on time and keep a healthy amount of sleep regularly.

A night of sufficient and sound sleep is not only good for your immune system but can also relieve stress and help you regulate your emotions more. Maybe you already know this bit of information, but just in case, an adult requires 7-9 hours of sleep and a few hours more for children and young adults.

Be Prepared Financially

Being short on finances can take a toll on your mental health. This is even worse since recently, more and more establishments and businesses are closing, leaving a lot of people unemployed. That said, their financial lives are in danger since they don’t have a reliable source of income anymore.

If your budget is stretched thin, you might as well build a financial plan. The pandemic will be along with winter, and thus, preparing for it financially is a good way to keep yourself afloat. Aside from planning, it’s also a good time to take advantage of any possible coupons. For medications, for example, sites such as www.buzzrx.com is a great place to visit to save some money.

Take a Social Media Break

Social Media is most addictive when you have a lot of free time and in isolation. Although social media can be a part of our job or a way to connect us to our friends, it can also be a source of mental damage since it’s also a source of information,  with some news being untrustworthy.

One thing you can do is to take a break for at least a week or if you can’t do that, limit yourself from being exposed to social media. Mute accounts, block posts, or even disconnect from your friends if it means that you’ll be less exposed to depressing stuff.

Takeaway

The greatest concern during the pandemic is how to keep safe from the virus. While that may be the case, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t give your mental health the attention it needs. It’s also as important as our bodies’ health, and with poor mental health, you’ll be even more exposed to mental illnesses that are just as concerning as the virus itself. Remember to keep yourself healthy, not just physically but also mentally.