Things feel weird, to say the least, right now. To some of us, myself included, things may even feel terrifying because of all the uncertainty. On top of the threat of illness, we're being told to self-quarantine or self-isolate, and businesses are being told to change the way they operate as the world deals with the spread of this illness. People are likening this global event to dystopian novels, and people in my area of the US are even likening it to the biblical "end times".
If you're like me, a peron who thrives on routine and planning and certainty, these changes to the normal patterns of our lives are enough to heighten anxiety or possibly cause panic. (Never mind the fact that my OCD mainly focuses on religious obsessions, and that feeling alone and isolating can actually make it easier for my anxiety to spiral.)
In times like these, with all the panic, the unpleasant parts of humanity on full display, and the constant worry of contracting physical illness, it's super easy to let our mental health end up on the back burner. That's exactly the opposite of what needs to happen, though. In times like these, our mental health efforts need to be ramped up, and we need to check in with ourselves more often as we navigate through the uncertainty.
I know a lot of non-essential health services are currently suspending office hours. That may mean your therapist (if you have one) isn't in the office. Or maybe, you're afraid to go out to go to the appointment with your therapist, which is completely understandable. That doesn't mean you have to cancel your appointment, though. Right now, my therapist has switched to phone or FaceTime sessions, and it's worth a shot to ask your therapist if you can do the same if you're too afraid to go to the office. Also, don't be afraid to call your therapist between appointments if you feel like you need extra help.
If you don't have access to a therapist, I encourage you to look into the apps you can download on your phone to help manage anxiety as well as other mental health conditions. You can also text or call crisis centers and hotlines, and someone there will be able to talk to you.
If you're like me and you need to exercise to help keep your mental health condition under control, you don't have to miss the exercise because you can't go to the gym. I find that walking for at least twenty minutes really helps my anxiety stay at a manageable level. If you don't have a treadmill, walking around your bedroom or around your house works. (I do this.) Body weight exercises are also a good option if you can't go to the gym and don't have equipment at home (think push-ups, lunges, squats. Yoga, Pilates, or Barr exercises are also a good way to get anxious energy out that you can do at home.).
Self-care is so important for our physical and mental health right now. It's okay to take it a little easier on yourself and to add more soothing activities if you need them while we're self-isolating. Take the bubble bath. Watch your favorite movie. Eat the comfort food. Take a nap. Meditate. Spend more time talking on the phone or chatting online with your friends and family. Ignore or mute the illness updates on your phone and social media if you have to in order to avoid a spiral or a panic attack. Try not to be angry with yourself for being extra anxious or struggling more with your depression symptoms right now.
I'll end with this: It's easy during an event like this one to let mental health take a back seat to physical health, but we have to remember that mental health is just as important in helping us maintain overall wellness as physical health. Keep your appointments with your therapist as much as possble, keep up your exercises to manage daily symptoms if that's a coping strategy, ramp up your self-care plans. Reach out to people through phone calls, texts, or online chats if you're feeling alone. Also, practice the techniques you learned to help you keep from getting lost in an anxiety or depression spiral during the overload of negative or frightening information.
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