With the shelter-in-place orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the restorative practices staff at Youth for Christ are planning a webinar, Self-care During the Corona Virus. I did research and chose 10 tips for the workshop. I thought you’d find some of the information and tips helpful as well. But first, I found something surprising.
Quarantine affects mental health
It’s been shown that a period of just two weeks in quarantine can be linked with serious mental health issues, which can include: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, depression, confusion and/or anger.1
Since it has already been way longer than two weeks, chances are some of us are already suffering from mental health challenges.
When to seek help
Get some help if you notice:
- “yourself feeling overly agitated,
- losing interest in life,
- withdrawing from relationships,
- eating or sleeping too much or too little, or
- experiencing other symptoms of depression or anxiety.”2
Reach out to a therapist near you (many are doing telehealth) or call the National Alliance on Mental Illness crisis line at 800-950-NAMI. Or call the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-8255
Together we can do this. I know that for me the days seem really long. Call a trusted friend or share with your spouse or partner. We do not need to go through this struggle alone.
Sources:
- Make time for self-care during a self-quarantine, Published Mar. 18, 2020 https://www.geisinger.org/health-and-wellness/wellness-articles/2020/03/18/17/56/self-care-during-quarantine
- Self Care and COVID-19: Getting Ready for the Marathon, Doreen Dodgen-Magee, Psy.D. Posted Mar 19, 2020 https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/deviced/202003/self-care-and-covid-19-getting-ready-the-marathon
- Image: covid-19-4971811 [Pixabay.com]