Tips to look after your mental health

It is normal to experience anxiety, worry, and pain when you are diagnosed with a medical problem. Especially if you have tested positive for COVID-19 or you are waiting for your test result to come. 

If you are recovering or have mild symptoms of COVID-19, you should follow the healthcare guidelines provided by WHO until it is safe for you to be with others. Taking too much stress will negatively affect your body, so while you are at rest and recovering physically, it is important to keep your mental health in check. 

According to doctors, people addicted to tobacco or drugs are likely to have more severe health issues if they get COVID-19. That is because their addictions can harm lung function and weaken their immune system, causing chronic diseases such as heart and lung diseases, increasing the risk of significant complications from COVID-19. If you are one of those who are addicted to unhealthy habits or dealing with any health issues, then seek medical help.

Here are some tips for good mental health while you recover from COVID-19:

Tips for good mental health during COVID-19

Self-care is a good option for both mental and physical health. Take care of your mind and body and connect with others to get the care you need to help you cope.

Be careful for your physical health

• Eat healthily- Choose a balanced diet. Avoid intake of excess junk food and refined sugar. Limit caffeine as it can increase anxiety and stress.
• Get ample sleep- Get 7-8 hours of sleep daily.
• Physical activity- Physical activity and exercise can reduce anxiety and improve your mood. Do any physical exercise in the morning or evening to get fit mentally and physically. You can also do some other activities to improve mental health.
• Avoid unhealthy habits- If you smoke or vape, you’re already at higher risk of lung infection. Because COVID-19 affects the lungs, so in this case, your risk increases even more. Avoid taking alcohol or any other things to cope with the situation. Also, you can strengthen your lungs by following some healthy tips for lung health.
• Get proper rest– Taking proper rest during the COVID-19 recovery will boost your immune system and reduce anxiety.

Take care of your mental health

• Limit watching the news and social media- Constant news about COVID-19 from news channels and social media will make you more upset and overwhelmed. Instead of this, develop a new hobby like painting, writing, etc., that will improve your mental health.
• Maintain daily routine- Maintaining a proper schedule is important to your mental health. Doing things according to your regular schedule will keep your mind more in control.
• Focus on positive things- When you focus on positive things more, then your mind feels decluttered, and your mental health improves. For example, you can list a few things that you are thankful for or keep hope for a better situation. 
• Do yoga for mental health- Yoga is one of the best things you can do to boost your mental health. Yoga has also shown benefits for people with types of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, ADHD, and PTSD.
• Connect with family and friends- If you are staying apart from your families for work or study, try to talk daily and share your feelings with them. In this way, you will be able to manage your emotions. Friends act as all-time stress busters, connect with them as much as you can. 
• Seek help when needed- A lot of people can not understand their mental health issues and suffer a lot. If you are facing any of the following conditions, connect with your doctor.

1. Feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, or guilt.
2. Changes in your appetite.
3. Trouble sleeping.
4. Trouble focusing on things.
5. Thoughts of hurting yourself.

The doctor will always advise you on the best possible solution to cope with stress during the pandemic.

Final thoughts

Assuming mental health problems like anxiety or depression will go away on their own can lead to severe symptoms. If you experience mental health symptoms or any other health issues which trigger your mental health, ask for help and be upfront about how you’re doing. For more information or seeking help, you can always contact the CK Birla Hospital in Gurgaon.

FAQs

Ques: How can I reduce stress down during the coronavirus pandemic?

Ans: In a difficult time, like this pandemic, it is important to keep looking after your physical and mental health. It will not only help you to keep healthy and fit in the long term but also help you to fight against COVID-19.

Try to do all the following things to keep your physical and mental health up,

• Eat a healthy and nutritious diet, which helps the immune system to function properly. 
• Quit smoking 
• Limit your alcohol consumption and other sugary drinks. 
• Exercise daily, WHO recommends 1 hour of physical activity for children and 30 minutes of physical activity for adults to stay fit.

Ques: How to take care of one’s physical and mental health?

Ans: The COVID-19 pandemic can feel disturbing due to news, long work hours, and worrying for your family and friends. But take a pause, give a thought, and make plans on how you can deal with worries to stay calm. 

Tips for you to take care of yourself:

Physical health:

• Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet 
• Drink lots of water.
• Sleep enough (7-8 hours of sleep each night)
• Exercise daily
• Avoid taking alcohol or drugs
• Spend some time outside (your house terrace or balcony) in the fresh air to feel relaxed. 

Mental health:

• Follow your daily routine at home.
• Connect with your family and friends
• Write down things you are grateful for 
• Listen to music or read books.
• Avoid social media and news channels if you are not feeling good.

Ques: What are the signs of mental illness?

Ans: Mental illness refers to a wide range of mental health conditions that affect your mood, behaviour and thinking.

Many people have mental health concerns, but it becomes a mental illness when ongoing signs and symptoms cause constant stress and affect your ability to function.

Following are some of the signs of mental illness,

• Feeling sad all the time
• Confused thinking 
• Decrease ability to concentrate
• Feeling difficulty coping with stress
• Suicidal thinking
• Unreasonable fears or worries, or intense feelings of guilt
• Problem in sleeping
• Changes in eating habits
• Tiredness and low energy 
• Problems with alcohol or drug use
• Excessive anger or violence

Ques: What are some suggestions on managing anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Ans: Concerns about COVID-19 can take emotional damage on anyone. The difficulty surrounding COVID-19 is one of the most difficult things to handle for anyone. Following are some suggestions that can help you to manage your anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Eat a well-balanced diet to get fit.
• Stay updated about surroundings and situations from trustworthy sources like government bulletins or WHO.
• Stay connected with your loved ones.
• Be kind to yourself if you are experiencing more anxiety than usual. 
• Take out some time for activities you love.
• Do some relaxation techniques like meditation and deep breathing for anxiety or depression.