The coronavirus pandemic has struck a lot of aspects of our life, including our mental health. Even with the pandemic being almost over in most countries nowadays, some of us are still isolated from society and even an outcast in some. We can’t deny that this is the perfect storm for people struggling with mental health. Not only are they isolated and struggling with their finances, but they also have to deal with their mental health issues.
While everyone and everything else is returning to normal right now, people with mental issues are still dealing with the stress and issues they have that have been cranked up to a hundred for the past two years. That said, if you’re one of them and want to do something about it, don’t worry; you’re not alone. Luckily, we can teach you some ways to cope with depression during the pandemic. Here are some of them.
Get Quality Sleep
Getting a good night’s sleep can be a challenge for many people dealing with mental health issues. In fact, one of the symptoms of depression is not getting enough sleep. However, by not getting enough sleep, you’re making your mental health issue worse.
Not being able to sleep makes our body and mind tired, further exacerbating the negative thoughts in our minds. If you want to deal with your depression, one of your main priorities should be getting a good night’s sleep.
If you’re struggling with that, you can try pills to help you fall asleep, just make sure that you consult your doctor first. Side effects can come with certain drug interactions. Always consult with your doctor if you’re planning to take sleeping pills while you have maintenance medications such as Vyanse or other drugs for that matter.
Find The Hope
This may sound impossible back when the pandemic is in full swing because of the countless fear-mongering of the media about lockdowns, increasing cases, etc. But luckily, there’s a lot to be hopeful about nowadays. From businesses going back to their operations to many countries returning to normal, there’s hope to be found in the world right now.
For most of us, the pandemic is nothing more than a bad memory now. If you’re struggling with depression, it’s no use meditating on negative things. We know that it’s hard with your condition, but sometimes, one thing that can make you even just a little bit relieved right now is good news.
Be Productive With Your Free Time
One of the worst things you can do when you’re isolated and struggling with depression is to use most of your time thinking about your negative thoughts. To keep away from them, you can keep yourself busy by being productive. With a lot of free time in your hands right now, you can do many things.
For example, you can find a new hobby to be engrossed in or learn a new instrument. You can also start new projects or do that unfinished project you had in the garage; anything that can keep your mind out of your negative spiral is good enough.
Connect With Others
The feeling of hopelessness can be further exacerbated by being alone. One thing you can do, however, is to connect with your friends and family, even if it’s not face-to-face. Ever watched that movie Castaway starring Tom Hanks? That’s a good example of what isolation and loneliness can do.
It may have been a work of fiction, but it’s based on many real-life experiences. If you connect with others, you’ll feel a lot less lonely. Not only that, but you can also share your feelings with your loved ones and let them know how you feel. They may not understand fully, but they can help you in many ways.
Remind Yourself That Your Situation Is Temporary
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic seemed never-ending, with the cases increasing and countless mutations it had. You might have had hopelessness during that time, which is not good for someone with depression. If you’re feeling that way, one thing you can do is to remind yourself that all of this is temporary. Look at the world right now. Most countries are open, and businesses in your local area are back on business.
Not only that, even though scientists didn’t find any cure for COVID-19 yet, many vaccines have already been rolled out around the world, meaning that most of us are already vaccinated. Sure, COVID-19 might be mutating at this very moment, but that doesn’t mean that the mutations are as deadly as the original. Even if it is, the world is prepared because of its experiences dealing with the first.
As we mentioned earlier, there is a lot of hope in the world right now as it’s returning to normal. By reminding yourself that the pandemic is temporary, you can feel more hopeful about your current situation.
Final Words
Dealing with depression is never easy, and with the past pandemic, the feeling of hopelessness and isolation further exacerbated this feeling. However, you can choose not to just bear with it. There are many ways for you to cope positively and even get yourself out of that downward spiral.
