Self-Care for Home Quarantine Anxiety and Depression
While we understand the importance of home quarantine and social distancing, avoiding contact with other people can be difficult emotionally.
The isolation can affect us. The long periods of being ‘locked up’ at home can have adverse psychological effects because we are such ‘social animals’ by nature. These effects include many emotional disturbances, such as fear, anxiety, depression, insomnia, stress, and irritability.
During these trying times, it is essential to keep our mental and emotional health intact. Here are a few tips to help you deal with home quarantine anxiety and depression.
” Have The Right Mindset
Most of what happens to you has a lot to do with your emotions and what’s going on in your head. Meaning, your mindset about your current situation greatly determines how things work out for you.
To avoid developing anxiety or becoming deeply depressed due to home quarantine, you need to develop the right mindset. Instead of perceiving it as being locked up and stuck at home, view it as a time to spend with your family, or if you are alone, to do some of the things you have been wanting to for ages.
If you’ve been busy working 40 hours and more a week, you probably haven’t been spending much time with your children. This home quarantine period gives you a chance to bond with them, and just relax at home. Relish having a great time with the people you love.
Or if your workload has interfered with learning a new skill, get enthusiastic and make use of your home time to get started!
” Take A Break From the News And Social Media
You might want to tune in to the news to keep up-to-date with what’s happening in the world. However, don’t overdo it. It’s okay to be informed, but don’t consume too much doom and gloom from watching the news. The news is not known for giving stories of love and happiness, whereas sad news can make you more anxious or more depressed. The same goes for social media. It’s the main source of news and information for many people, so it’s also not healthy to keep on repeatedly browsing your newsfeeds.
” Keep Your Normal Routine As Much As You Can
Having to stay at home removes you from your daily routine, and these disruptions from your regular life can cause anxiety. The best way to handle this situation is to try staying as close to your usual routine as you can. Wake up at the same time that you normally do, cook and eat breakfast, and get ready for the day. Even if you’re not going to work, you may want to stick to your usual bathroom and dressing routine.
If you’re not able to work remotely, you can spend your time learning a new skill. Wrap up your day at the same time that you get off work normally, and go to bed like you usually do. It will help maintain a feeling of normalcy, so you will feel that not too much has changed.
” Keep The Communications Open
Keep anxiety at bay by communicating with other people continually. Thanks to technology today, home quarantine doesn’t mean being totally isolated. There’s chat, SMS, calls, and video conferences that you can take advantage of so that you will still feel connected to the outside world.
You can also join support groups on social media and speak with other people who are going through the same thing. Being able to help other people can also bring comfort to you. It’s like being in your own therapy group at home.
Taking care of your mental health is essential during a home quarantine. Take the right steps to care for your emotional and mental health as much as possible. It is important you stay positive and know that you won’t be stuck in home quarantine forever. You’ll be out and about before you know it, so hang in there!