The world as we knew it has changed completely in the past two years. The global pandemic has not left even a single area of our lives untouched. From work to college to what we wear to how we eat, everything we do today is drastically different from 2019. We have also seen disastrous social events, the start of global-scale wars, and the horror of having to wash dishes more than twice a day.
In such times of change and crisis, it is impossible for anyone’s mental health to remain unaffected. 68.6% of therapists and counselors have reported an increase in the number of patients they have seen since the pandemic began. Even people who were not considering the option of therapy before have been taking active steps to preserve their mental health and wellbeing.
Medical professionals strongly recommend seeking mental health advice from qualified professionals. There are many ‘experts’ on social media who give out unproven statements and debunked myths in the name of psychology. Instead of looking for an online psychologist or therapy on social media, look for a platform that gives you professional medical advice.
Things You Can Do in Stressful Situations:
Asking for help is not easy for everyone. Mental health is a relatively new topic, and not everyone is comfortable addressing what is upsetting them. Saying that ‘it’s not a big deal is not only insensitive but also unhelpful. No one can understand your experience without going through it themselves. So while you gather up the courage and will to visit an online psychologist or go for therapy, here are a few things you can do when you feel yourself getting anxious or depressed.
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Ground yourself. Anxiety and depressions arise from anticipation and expectations of situations. Close your eyes and try to experience the moment you are in. Take in the sounds and smells around you. Try to touch as many different textures and surfaces as you can around you. This will help you come back to the present instead of fearing or anticipating a bad future event.
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Get enough exercise. Pent-up negative energy and stress can be disastrous. Give your energy an outlet and your mind enough room to recover.
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Change your environment. Being at home or in the same place for a long can make you feel stuck, helpless or unproductive. Take a workcation, create a separate working area at home or find an outdoor location to take breaks.
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Find a hobby. A large number of people have taken up hobbies and started businesses during the lockdown. From knitting to selling products to working on physical fitness, you can do anything you imagine. Find a hobby that interests you, even if you cannot earn money from it. Do it for the pleasure and the joy it brings you.
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Stop using social media. It can be triggering to watch negative events happening around you. It can also be demotivating to see influencers and celebrities achieving big goals while you feel you haven’t achieved much. It helps to unfollow accounts that make you feel bad about yourself or your world.
Go Easy on Yourself:
Remember, abnormal situations beget abnormal reactions. We most certainly are in the most trying period in the past sixty years. So if you feel your mental health deteriorating, it is nothing wrong nor are you weak. It is the most normal response to the situation we are in. You are not alone, so make sure you ask for help.
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