The Emotional Upheaval of COVID-19: Managing Poor Mental Health
Social distancing and self-isolation are becoming the new norms across the world. As an undergraduate student, myself and many students have faced uncertainties about degree classifications, summer internships and volunteering projects being cancelled. Whilst being at home is at the best interests of others, problems like managing work/life schedules for parents, being worried about schoolwork as a teenager and being constantly bored as a child, can cause a huge emotional upheaval. Being emotionally exhausted can affect those that are in the “high risk” category and are vulnerable – the elderly, those with health issues, children that face abuse and neglect, those with additional needs and the list goes on .. Sooner or later, you may find yourself in a vicious cycle of overthinking, negative thoughts and having increased fears of the unknown.
Managing mental health during these worrying times have become increasingly difficult with no face-to-face communication and being limited in going outdoors. How can people manage their mental health and more importantly, sustain it during this pandemic? Realising that ‘trying to work on yourself can sometimes not work’ is hard to grasp. However, knowing that there will be better days, having a friend or family member that can support you and finally, understanding that there will be a time or opportunity someday to help yourself, is important.
Here are some tips that I have discovered independently, heard from other people and read about over the past month:
Having a Routine
This is easier said than done and it might not go to plan initially. Have you felt that “this is so frustrating”, or “I feel exhausted all the time” ? Remember that your body and mind is going through a variety of changes: stress, confusion, a sense of self being lost and having to restructure your life can be more taxing during this crisis. You may be thinking if you have a routine, you will be restricted to only working or go off tangent to your allocated activities and times. If you’re in school, think of how and when you would do your homework. Similarly, make a timetable that has some learning, relaxation, exercise and family time. A varied and well- balanced timetable will help YOU and your loved one around you, especially if they are relying on you a bit more during these times. Don’t know where you can learn about something new or stuck for ideas? Pick a topic, something that interests you in school or outwith, keep a record of something new you discover every day in that topic. You may want to get your family involved and make it into a fun game, reporting back what you learned or having a quiz! Maybe you want to learn a new skill like knitting, cooking, DIY, or a new language? Ask your family, look up YouTube videos and take inspiration from people you know – engaging in activities keeps your mind and body healthy.
Stop and Smell The Roses
It’s easy to get lost in social media posts on the pandemic or watch the news more often for new headlines. If you find this to be overbearing, think about setting app limits or disabling notifications on news apps. It may also be more helpful for your mind and body to step outside into your garden, take a deep breath and observe the noises and sights around you. Becoming more interested in your surroundings will help your mental health, by drawing your attention to what is going on around you, especially when the weather brightens up! Being physically well plays a big role in protecting your mental health, so depending on where you live, you may do some gym workouts indoors or in your garden or go for a walk.
Finding a Healthy Way to Communicate Your Issues
Opportunities for online counselling and therapy are growing for existing clients, as well as helpline volunteers, crisis text services and online forums also being available. Journaling your thoughts and feelings on a daily/weekly basis can help both your mood and those that are providing support and advice. Having an “off-day” or “off-week” can happen sometimes, but online self-help resources, audiobooks, mindfulness and qualified professionals are there for you.
Focus on Finding a Purpose
What is your purpose during the pandemic? Do you want to grow as a person by being more involved in your community? Perhaps you want to grow closer to your family? Finding this purpose often leads to thoughts, like “you need to do a lot of work for this” or “I need to look for inspiration actively”. Yet sometimes the inspiration can stem from home, your experiences during these times or somewhere else entirely! Just like establishing a routine, building and maintaining connections in nature and with your local groups, having a purpose helps to put you and your mind in perspective, leading to personal growth and more positive thoughts.
I hope the tips that I have provided will help those that need inspiration and hope in managing their mental health. Finally, whilst the information provided focuses on managing poor mental health, keeping in touch with relatives, friends and your local community via social media, video calling apps and emails, is equally important in protecting your emotions and others close to you.
Written by Evelyn Antony
“Hello! My name is Evelyn and I recently graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a Master of Arts (with Honours) degree in Psychology. My undergraduate dissertation leveraged data from the UK Millennium Cohort Study, where I investigated the role of emotional dysregulation in explaining the association between ADHD and internalising emotional problems amongst young children. Throughout my degree, I have acquired valuable and meaningful experiences working with young people that have profound mental health issues and additional needs, as well as working in research and events management within higher education settings. Collectively my work experiences and undergraduate degree in psychology has led me to pursue postgraduate studies, in educational psychology, which commences later in 2021.”