As Texas is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 it is normal to feel both depressed and anxious. Depression could be caused by sadness that so many people are sick and dying or that it is recommended that we go back into quarantine and social distance to deal with the latest surge. There also might be anger and sadness that family members and friends are not doing these things or refusing to get vaccinated which makes you worry about their health and safety. All of these feelings and fears are natural given the unprecedented situation we are in. Here are some tips that can help with depression during these times.
Limit news consumption
It is normal to want to be kept abreast of what is going on with COVID-19 in your area or where your loved ones live. However, continuing to watch coverage of people getting hospitalized can have a debilitating effect on our mental health. It is important to limit your watching the news and spend some time doing other activities that will increase your wellness. Unfortunately, seeing the news can be ubiquitous from facebook or any other social media site, to websites that pop up on internet searches to television. If you are feeling down about whats going on, feel free to remove yourself from the news and perhaps watch something else such as a comedy special or funny movie.
Set a routine
if you are stuck in your house all day, it can be easy to fall into a rut with a lot of time on your hands and limited options to go out and socialize. A routine can be really helpful to feel busy and productive. Creating a schedule can help. In your schedule you should include your work if you are employed but also schedule downtime for self care whatever that may entail. It can help to set a schedule the day before to make sure you get to all your priorities for the next day.
Stay connected to friends and family
It is easy to feel isolated if you are choosing to quarantine. This is especially difficult for single people who live alone. Although it may be difficult and unnatural try to stay as connected to friends and family as possible. I’d recommend not doing this by being on social media or group text messages but rather by picking up the phone or getting on a video call. Research has shown that video calls produce similar mental health benefits regarding feelings of connection as face to face interaction so it is important to take advantage of this if you are feeling isolated.
Go outside and exercise
Getting exercise and being outdoors is extremely helpful in feeling less depressed. Exercising releases endorphins which improve mental health. Being active is extremely beneficial for your mental and physical health. Research has shown that brisk walking or jogging can be critical to living a longer and healthier life. Unfortunately there are mitigating factors such as climate that may impact how often you can be outside. Generally, it makes sense to push yourself to get out because there is a high probability you will feel much better about things when you complete your workout.
A new surge of covid-19 can easily cause people to feel depressed. This is natural given the state of the virus and its impact in Texas at the moment. Limiting news consumption, setting a routine, staying connected with loved ones and going outside to exercise can be helpful in mitigating depression symptoms. If you are feeling depressed speaking to a mental health professional can be helpful. Contact me today for help with depression treatment.