As we all continue through this time of quarantine and self-isolation, many may experience some type of mental breakdown or see a decrease in their overall mental health. This is a global pandemic in which none of us were prepared for, nor have experienced before. We have all been faced with challenges over the past couple of months, and constantly staying at home can be much more difficult than it sounds. Learn how the coronavirus is affecting mental health and ways to cope with this. 

This has been a very stressful time for all of us. A lot of this stress can be due to fears or anxiety about the disease itself, and hoping you or a loved one doesn’t ever get it. While we experience these stresses, it’s especially important that we are taking care of each other, and noticing changes in emotions, moods and activity. 

How to cope with stress

Everyone deals with stress differently, and stress is oftentimes linked to your background and the community you live in. When or if you ever become stressed, remember to take care of yourself and that you’re never alone! Here are some ways to help reduce stress during this pandemic. 

• Take breaks from watching, listening, or reading news stories. Hearing about this pandemic constantly can be upsetting. 
• Take care of your body
• Take deep breaths
• Meditate
• Eat healthier
• Exercise more
• Avoid consuming alcohol and drugs
• Communicate with others

While it’s inevitable that stressful times will happen in life, there are also things we can do to prevent stress from occurring and promote strong mental health. Here are some steps to take to ensure your mental health is consistently strong during this pandemic.

• Maintain a routine. Staying at home every day is much different than the life we were used to, and having a steady daily routine will keep you busy and on top of everything! 
• Exercise regularly. Exercise can help relieve stress, as well as prevent it! While we isolate at home, it can be challenging to get yourself to workout. However, taking time out of your day to get outside and be active will increase your mental health tremendously. 
• Try not to fixate on sleep. It is very tempting to change your sleep schedule and allow yourself to take naps each day. Try to focus on going to bed around the same time every night, not staying up too late, and getting up at a reasonable time in the morning to ensure a healthy mind! 
• Eat a consistent diet. Eating healthy foods is another thing that helps reduce stress, and a healthy, consistent diet will help prevent stress from arising. Focus on eating appropriate amounts of everything, as well as eating around the same time every day. 

Mental health is something that should be very important to everyone. As we continue through this pandemic, it’s important to be mindful of others and watch for signs and changes in behavior. This is especially important for parents who have children, as this is a very challenging time for them as well. Take care of yourself, your family, your loved ones and your friends during this crazy time!