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COVID-19 and Mental Health
How To Maintain Proper Mental Health During A Season of Isolation & Lockdown
By Ariana Lobo
As Americans, we are no longer strangers to mental illness. In fact, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience a mental health disorder every year. Even more alarming, 1 in 6 U.S. youth, from the ages of 6 – 17, experience a mental illness every year as well. Yet despite this widespread normalization of such disorders as depression, anxiety, or even schizophrenia, extended periods of societal lockdown are not commonplace. Below are a few unique activities that you and your family can utilize during this season of extreme isolation. Countless studies have shown that human interaction, rest, and the practicing of joy boost our health and wellness exponentially. So in a genuine effort to be our healthiest both mentally and physically, dare to think outside of the box, embrace your inner sense of play, and capitalize on this much-needed rest.
- FaceTime Date
The internet has officially merged with the dating world – this much we know. But what about scheduling dates with your friends, your loved ones, or yes maybe even your special someone? With so much down time and physical distancing, remaining in contact is vital for our health as human beings. In fact, a common trigger for many mental health disorders is the sensation of extreme loneliness or isolation. So set your parameters for the date, make it fun! We recommend such things as: scheduling a time, setting a topic or activity (online shopping, cards games, etc.), or bringing food to share with one another. Get creative with the people you care about and engage in connection – we need it now more than ever.
- Reading
As you may have already seen, many people are Instagramming or Snapchatting their way through several books during this time of isolation. But what if you don’t have any physical books at home or what if you have books at home but want to branch out? The internet comes to the rescue once again. There are countless resources online through public library systems or a variety of other applications that allow you to use or download free e-books. Reading, however, is also a great activity for your brain health that doesn’t require technology so long as you have a direct copy. Below are a few online e-book resources including a source for those with reading impairments.
https://www.hubspot.com/resources/ebook
- Build A Fort
So much of the therapeutic process is rooted in our inner child and how we address that tumultuous time in our lives. In fact, many of us walk around carrying deeply rooted scars, experiences, or traumas that affect us to this day – or manifest directly into a mental health disorder. Therefore, we encourage activities that embrace that inner child and remind us of that innocent, uninhibited joy. Building a fort is a great at-home activity for both kids and adults. You can utilize whatever resources you may have such as: blankets, pillows, or even a stuffed animal or two. There is no right or perfect way to make a fort! Use what you have and cozy up. It is also helpful when combatting such things as depression and anxiety to change the space you are in, and a fort is a fun and inexpensive way to add some feng shui to a much lived-in space.
- Meditation / Exercise
Rest and exercise are some of the most powerful tools we have at our disposal to maintain mental, physical, and emotional health. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, research shows that meditation can physically change the brain and improve several health disorders. This level of rest and reflection is extremely beneficial to the body. Similarly so, exercise is vital to maintaining mental health. In fact, James Blumenthal [PhD], a clinical psychologist at Duke University conducted a study and found that, “After four months of treatment, patients in the exercise and antidepressant groups had higher rates of remission than did the patients on the placebo. Exercise, he concluded, was generally comparable to antidepressants for patients with major depressive disorder,” (Psychosomatic Medicine, 2007).
So during this of time of isolation, we encourage that to maintain proper mental health you practice meditation and embrace the healing power of exercise. After all, they are free and require no technology in order to execute.
- Try-Out A Long-Time Passion!
One of the most common sensations associated with depression, is a feeling of impossibility. Individuals that are depressed often have a hard time getting out of bed today, let alone pre-occupying themselves about what tomorrow brings. An inventive way to combat this sensation during this isolated time period is to dive into new things. However, we not only encourage trying new things, but especially things that you may have had a passion for before and never tried or had the time to try. By taking the leap and delving into your passions, you are keeping your brain engaged and your body active. You are also providing yourself with a newfound strength and skill that you maybe thought you never had. This feeling is polar opposite to the sensation of feeling useless or impossibly trapped. So if you have aspired to a specific kind of hobby or activity, now is an excellent time to invest in those pursuits and remind your body how incredible you really are – your mental health will thank you.
