Counseling: Make your mental health a priority
Given the current situation of the pandemic, we know for a fact that we would be living in a new normal with a lot of changes
Ingrained in human DNA is the concept of survival of the test. Human intelligence allows us to change and modify ourselves to adjust to our surroundings.
Make your mental health a priority
A lot of things have been happening lately, the most dramatic of which has been the fact that the pace of life has been slowed down. Be it a businessman or someone from the service sector, a teacher or a student, or a daily wage earner, the impact is everywhere. This has its pros and cons. Human beings are perpetual planners. Before the Coronavirus upended our world, we rushed and ranted daily, to meet the dreaded deadlines, to stay ahead of the curve.
Now most of us are locked in our homes, holed up with family members for durations longer than we are used to. Even as we figure out our studying or working from home, the inherent busyness that envelopes our lives has abruptly ceased. No Monday morning scrambles, no traffic snarls, no have-to-go-here, have-to-buy-that. Life suddenly is stripped of its essentials. We need to cook, clean, eat and sleep.
We are all perpetual planners. Before the coronavirus upended our world, we rushed and ranted daily, to meet the dreaded deadlines to stay ahead of the curse.
Uncertain times like this may affect us without warning signs hence a small self-checklist for ourselves to check in with yourself
Now, most of us are locked in our homes, holed up with family members for durations longer than we are used to. Even as we figure out whether to study or work from home, the inherent busyness that envelopes our lives has abruptly been erased. Monday morning scrambles, no traffic snarls, no have-to-here, have-to-buy-that. Life suddenly is stripped of foil essentials. We need to cook, clean, eat and sleep
While facing the imminent economic crisis, lack of jobs, and worsening national health, the Coronavirus has in turn given us the much-needed pause humanity needed. We get t spend quality time with our loved ones, and learn a new skill. develop a new hobby, cook, and focus on the more indigenous aspects of life.
Despite the many many models of predictions by epidemiologists and international health experts, there is an underlying vibe in the air, unnerving because we don’t know what tomorrow will be like. This has a direct impact on our mental health. The World Economic Forum (2018) noted that we are dealing with an international mental health crisis, being forwarded over the last two decades, and we are on the verge of this imminent catastrophe.
The rising number of suicides by popular figures should be the “canary in the coal mine for the masses. Many times it’s not something major that disturbs the balance of your mental health, but a compilation of the everyday little things that play a major role. Here giving prioritized importance to your mental health and taking that extra step of caution is the need of
The few things you must do
- Practice yoga, and meditate
- Be supportive and empathetic
- Seek help and information from trusted sources
- Connect and communicate
- Develop the art of gratitude
- Develop a meaningful hobby
- Spend time with your family
- Drink warm water, keep yourself hydrated
- Stay away from negativity
- Help a friend in need and do your part for society
How are you feeling? Is there something that is bothering you? Don’t’ suppress that feeling What is it that you can change and what is there that you should accept about the situation?
Manage your expectations
You may not have the same level of productivity as your ally or even as your normal self. Understand this, it is not a rat race. Do not succumb to the idealistic pressures of constantly engaging and giving a certain output.
Find a sense of purpose in the things you choose to doc it will help you feel what you do is worthwhile.
Let the things you do bring value to your life.
Remember we are all in this together.
Staying strong and calm with a positive approach towards a better day will ensure we all come out the other side of the tunnel as healthier people.
Seek help: If you or someone you know is feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, anxiety, restlessness, feeling low or any Other emotions arising from the current situation,
PLEASE REACH OUT.
Article by: Tanvi Parekh Agrawal