COVID-19 has been rapidly spreading throughout the US and, with it, fear, stress, and anxiety have been spreading as well. This difficult time is hard on all of us, but it can be particularly hard on those of us who were already struggling with mental health issues before the outbreak. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, one in five American adults experience a mental illness in a given year, 6.9 percent of Americans live with “major” depression, and 18.1 percent of Americans live with an anxiety disorder.
Regardless of whether you have an underlying condition or a mental health concern, there are all kinds of ways to make a positive change to find a sense of inner peace during this hard time. Check out these five ways to find balance during COVID-19:
1) Book a therapy session
Regardless of whether you’ve been struggling with a mental health issue or not, being quarantined can give you a great opportunity to talk with a mental health counselor about the specific issues you’re currently dealing with. Most therapists are offering individual therapy over the phone or computer during the quarantine. This includes many New York psychotherapists who are now offering online individual therapy to help their patients through this difficult time. It can be stressful enough just living in New York City, what alone if you’re living in New York during an outbreak. The close quarters in New York alone can be anxiety-inducing!
So, make time to virtually see a Psychotherapist with years of experience to get ahead of your stress. Being stuck in quarantine can bring up a lot of potential relationship problems that are best to talk to someone with extensive experience instead of further damaging your relationships. If you’re an “essential employee”, this can be a particularly hard time to find a work-life balance as now BOTH are particularly stressful due to all the tension. On the other hand, if you’re not an “essential employee”, you could be facing the stress of low pay. Regardless of your specific issue, meet it head-on by making time to book a virtual appointment with a New York psychotherapist.
2) Virtually stay in touch with loved ones
Being quarantined means not only are you lonely and missing your family members, but you’re also missing out on special occasions like Easter dinner and birthday parties. Luckily, there are ways to virtually stay in touch with family members and include them during special occasions. With devices like ibi, we can share pictures and videos with our loved ones to feel more connected. Even the CDC recommends staying in contact with loved ones as a way to cope with stress.
Check out ibi reviews to see for yourself if an ibi device could fit your storage needs. Unlike Google drive, the smart photo manager on ibi automatically backs up all your photos and videos from all your devices and social media accounts. The ibi is ideal for staying in touch during quarantine as it allows you to create your own “inner circle” to share photos and videos with select family members and other loved ones.
3) Do something creative
Whether it’s playing music, drawing, painting, doing crafts, or trying out an adult coloring book; finding a creative outlet can really help with stress management. Actually, one study found “art intervention” to significantly reduce stress. So, find something creative that lines up with your particular interest and make some time to enjoy it.
4) Do something relaxing (every day)
Whether it’s creating art, reading, listening to music, watching TV, or taking a bubble bath; make time to ignore the news and unwind. Both the CDC and the National Institute on Mental Health recommend this as a way to cope with the outbreak.
5) Take care of yourself
To ensure you’re in a good place when this pandemic is over, you should be vigilant in taking care of yourself. A great way to relax while simultaneously getting a light workout is through yoga. Yoga could be a great way to meditate as well to remain peaceful (the CDC recommends deep breathing and meditation to cope with stress). The CDC also recommends eating healthy balanced meals and avoiding alcohol (drink water and 100 percent fruit juices instead) to stay healthy.
Bonus tip: go for a walk while maintaining social distancing can reduce stress, improve your mood, help you maintain your weight, improve your sleep, and lower your blood pressure, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
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