On 11 March 2020, COVID-19 was declared as a global pandemic by WHO – World Health Organization. This pandemic affected a majority of the countries present throughout the world including the U.S., China, Italy, England, India, and many others. What we’ve all come to know is that the coronavirus is a serious illness that greatly impacts our health. In short, it lowers our overall state of well being and decreases the quality of life.
This global pandemic has not only affected us physically but also mentally, emotionally, socially, and environmentally. In this article, we will specifically talk about the effects of COVID-19 on our mental health. As the world does its best to get back to a state of normalcy, many of us remain mentally drained and disconnected.
What is mental health?
Mental health refers to the well-being of our emotional, social, and psychological states. Well-being refers to the feeling of happiness, wellness, positivity, and prosperity. When you think about it, our general well-being also determines our mental stability, and how we manage and overcome stress in our lives.
What is the importance of mental health?
Mental health enables a person to cope up with the stressful situations that often occur in his or her life. Moreover, mental health deals with the normal response of a person towards various circumstances that he comes across.
How has COVID-19 affected our mental health?
Due to the worldwide consideration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic, fear has become a major factor in our daily lives and people do their best to keep themselves and family members safe. We are terrified to see the devastating effects of this illness. This is affecting our mental health in the following ways:
- Fear has taken control of our minds
- We have become more thoughtful about illnesses and their effects.
- We are terrified of even minor symptoms and illnesses.
- We have developed scarcity and mindsets of lack.
- Our minds are suppressed by stress.
- We have fallen prey to anxiety.
- Our minds are dominated by negativity.
- We have become more protective of our loved ones.
Three ways to rest your mind during the COVID-19
- Limit social media
Do not listen to too much news and documentaries related to COVID. These things have a negative impact on the minds of people triggering an increased feeling of fear in their minds. Listen to basic news only and avoid spending hours scrolling through social media to find about COVID-19 statistics.
- Share your thoughts and emotions
In a time of such crisis, when you are not allowed to meet your loved ones in person, do not neglect in maintaining frequent calls with them. Interact with them via social media, make the audio/video calls, and relax your minds.
- Be creative and utilize your time
Do not waste your time overthinking stuff, rather utilize it in doing something useful. Be creative and learn a new skill, if possible. Or, you can always take up a new exercise or fitness routine from home. Also, take out some time to polish your in-built skills and talents. Build even better bonds with your family and share the love.
The bottom- line
In the end, we have a piece of advice for you to follow. You yourself are responsible for the things happening in your life. In these times, make sure to take care of your personal health and maintain social distancing to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.
