How to Take good care of our Mental Health in this Pandemic
Our children don’t do as we say, they do as we do. So, in these uncertain times, our children are looking to us on how to deal with the effects of this pandemic and the uncertainty of it all. Creating a legacy is not just about leaving money in your Will, it is about your impact on the next generation.
Never before has the issue of mental health been more important and relevant. So here are a few tips for safeguarding your mental health and positively influencing the next generation.
- Recognize that your anxiety is completely normal
If school closures and worrying headlines are making you anxious, you are not the only one. That is how you should be feeling.
“Your anxiety is going to help you make the decisions that you need to be making right now – not spending time in big groups of people, washing your hands, and not touching your face.” Dr. Damour advises
- Find a distraction
“Psychologists know that when people are in chronically difficult conditions it’s helpful to divide the problem into two categories: things they can do something about, and then things they can do nothing about”, says Dr. Damour
There’s going to be a lot in that second category right now, and that’s fine, but what can help us cope are distractions.
- Find new ways to connect with friends
If you want to spend time with your friends while limiting your actual contact, face time and social media are a great way to connect.
Just try to avoid the negative people on social media who like to post misinformation. You can either delete them or hide their posts from your feed. Sometimes we just need to clear out some of the people in our lives who harm our mental health.
4. Focus on yourself
Is there something new that you have been wanting to try for a while? Maybe learn a new skill, engage in self-improvement, start reading a new book, or devote time to playing an instrument? Now is the time to do all that. Making the most of a bad situation can be an important lesson to teach a child. Take the opportunity you have now to do some of the things that you want to do but have never had the time.
Focusing on yourself and finding ways to use the time that is now available are great ways to take care of your mental health.
- Connect with your feelings
Missing events with friends, hobbies and sports is very disappointing. “These are major losses. They are very upsetting for all, including teenagers. What is the best way to deal with disappointment? Allow yourself to feel it. “When it comes to having a painful feeling, the only way out is through. Go be sad, and if you allow yourself to do it, you will feel better soon.” You are entitled to fee the way that you do.
Everyone processes their feelings differently.
“Some children are going to make art, some are going to want to talk to their friends and use their shared sadness as a way to feel connected in a time when they can’t be together in person, and some children are going to want to find ways to get food to food banks”, says Dr. Damour. It’s important to do what you feel is right and useful.