Staying Sane During Lockdown
"When you can't control what's happening, challenge yourself to control the way ypu respond. That's where your power is!"
Small habits to transform your thoughts:
Yes! There are things you can control
These days of lockdown due to the coronavirus can be a big challenge for all of us, especially for those already suffering from some mental health issues. People who overthink tend to fall into the pit of negativity, where they become victim to the vicious circle of self-pity.
So, in order to overcome these feelings and thoughts, one can adopt certain habits such as:
1. Regular meditation and exercise:
This is one of the most effective ways to beat anxiety and several other mental health problems. Sitting alone and focusing on your thoughts can help you realize what negative patterns you might have. Exercise is not only good for your mind but your body as well. You build up muscle tone and lose weight, what more can one ask for!
2. Talk about it:
Whatever we may be facing, whether physical for emotional stress, the best way to move past it is to talk about it. Ask your family or friends if they can listen to you for a while. In cases where no one is available, just consult a therapist! Use apps like Wysa or InnerHour to vent your built up emotions.
3. Get enough sleep:
Yes nightowls, I'm talking to you! If sleep is hard to acquire, believe me when I say this: get your body tired enough to fall asleep. Walking, jogging, squats or even chores throughout the day can guarantee you a good night's sleep.
4. Engage in hobbies:
This is an area where I am still struggling since I am a medical student. I know I don't study all the time, but the time I don't study, I am either asleep or scrolling social media, the latter being a damaging habit. Keeping yourself busy with activities you love doing, whether it be playing with pets, watching a show or a movie, making art or reading books, involve in anything you love to unleash the happy soul you originally had as a kid.
5. Write it down:
I say this from experience that writing down what's bothering you can help you a lot. About two years back I was going through a depressive phase. I had lost many friends and I thought I'd never make new ones. So I began writing down my thoughts in my journal every single day. Not only did it help me change my negative thinking, it also made me a happier and overall friendly person. I made more friends than I could imagine.
6. Limit phone usage:
Our parents are right on this one! Haha, jokes aside it has actually been proven by research that using social media apps like facebook, instagram or snapchat can be damaging to your mental health if used excessively. Mindless scrolling is a bad and addictive habit. Replace it with actually talking to those around you, because believe me they are sick of seeing you with your eyes glued to your phone!
You can't calm the storm, so stop trying. What you can do is calm yourself. The storm will pass.
This pandemic might be getting on your nerves by now. It is the reason you can't go out and meet your loved ones. But don't you worry, just hold on. This storm will be over soon. Keep your attitude positive and keep moving forward. Because even Katy Perry said in her song firework, 'After a hurricane comes a rainbow.' Hang in there! We will get through this together. And we will see that rainbow
These were just small tips I shared with you guys so you can benefit from it. I am not a professional psychiatrist, I'm just another human like you trying to figure out life. This was my first time writing online and publishing it. I am a medical student currently in 4th Year. Hope you guys liked the tips I shared. Let me know what you think in the comments. Take care!
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
© 2020 Abeera Aslam
