Boost Your Mental Well-being During Quarantine

The year 2020 was just like the usual years but an outbreak of the Coronavirus from Wuhan city in China created an unimaginable situation for the entire world. The virus is so contagious that a simple talk or a handshake became life-threatening. The implications of the virus spread have been so fast and dreadful that every one of all ages has been affected.  To stop the virus spread the governing bodies of all the countries took some drastic steps like ‘lockdown’. The lockdown was imposed to stop the spread. As people had to stay at home it resulted in counter effects mainly targeting one’s mental health during quarantine.

The impact that Covid-19 has on personal and the economies are surging. It has lowered the world economies by 4.3 per cent which is three times more than the global financial crisis situation in 2009. The crisis has negative and adverse effects on the mental health of people. According to research 4 from 10 adults in the U.S have shown symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, and fear.  The negative impacts have been shown through eating disorders, sleeping disorders, and higher alcohol and drugs addiction at 32%, 36% and 12 % respectively. Such increased mental health implications are diagnosed due to lack of basic supplies, job loss, and isolation or quarantine effect.

Let’s see the ways to boost mental health due to the quarantine;

Proper hygiene: The primary need to fight the virus or to increase the feel-good factor is to maintain proper hygiene.  Take cool showers as they help to calm down the stress, it refreshes the body and provides relaxation to the mind. Keeping the surroundings clean by proper sanitization is a must. It is a stressbuster and builds confidence that you are living in a clean place.

Breathing exercises: One of the most useful techniques to combats loneliness, stress, and depression are by incorporating basic practices like breathing exercises. It reduces stress and anxiety by relaxing the brain.  Gentle breathing exercises with a slow pattern of holding the breath for maybe 6 seconds and exhaling will help to strengthen lung functioning. It helps to improve focus, concentration and cuts down the distracting and disengaging thoughts.

Maintain relations: Quarantine poses a lot of challenges, staying in one place for a long time will make you feel depressed, lonely and if you are dependent it will affect you even more. The digital space has spurred at an amazing rate, the surge occurred due to work from home, online schools, online classes, video conferencing which accelerated the data usage. With this technology, you can still be connected with your family and friends. Connect with people you care about through chat groups, join online clubs together, have video calls and engage with family.

Don’t get overwhelmed:  Too much of anything will cause problems, be watchful of what’s going on around the world. Understand the scenario and be informed of the status in the world but don’t get overwhelmed with it. Don’t worry too much about the news and panic. Stress and fear will damage heath it will make you sick and cause fatigue.  Anxiety will cause blood pressure to fluctuate and trigger health problems.

If you feel like you may be experiencing anxiety or other emotions that are compromising your mental health, don’t hesitate to get in contact with a professional. There are many online PMHNP programs that train individuals to analyze and treat mental health problems, so feel free to talk to one of them! Unburdening oneself of all those pent-up feelings can do a lot of good, so ensure you stay open and communicative while you’re alone.

Ward-off rumours: Also, there are many rumours that are spread so be wise and differentiate between the fake and real news. Thinking of the rumours will create unnecessary fear and anxiety in the mind. In these situations, it is more important to be safe and strong.

Sleep well: Good night’s sleep and proper rest are very essential for a healthy body and mind. Sleep helps the mind to focus and concentrate on work. Sleep helps the body to repair, rejuvenate and revitalize. It repairs the damaged cells, skin, and tissues. It also helps to build the immunity system of the body. Sleep deprivation has adverse health effects like improper digestion, lack of concentration, feeling dizzy, and tiredness.

Eat healthy food: Building a strong immune system is crucial to combat coronavirus, healthy food helps the body to function properly. It also has positive effects on the mind.  Eating healthy and nutritious food is as important as staying hydrated. The body needs hydration to feel refreshed.

In addition to the abovementioned staying active with at-home workout sessions, making DIY projects to keep the home clean and make home décor items to brighten the mood and making a schedule or routine can combat boredom and frustration.