As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread all over the world, several governments are implementing policies to safeguard citizens. These policies are intended to stem the spread of the virus. Furthermore, they are expected to help give medical practitioners a handle on the pandemic. Measures being implemented include social distancing and self-isolation.
Self-isolation occurs when a person is separated from society in certain circumstances such as being exposed to a sick person, recently traveling in from a high-risk country or when infected. Isolation is still mandatory even when there has been no confirmation of the virus on these sets of people. Self-isolation requires staying home for an initial 14 day period, which is the incubation period of the virus. Specific countries determine the parameters for requiring isolation from their citizens. In most European countries, isolation is now mandatory for everyone.
Self-isolation comes with unique mental challenges. For persons battling prior mental health difficulties like anxiety, depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), etc., the risks of escalation within this period are increased. The uncertainty about the nature and spread of the virus has taken a toll on the mental health of most people. A lot of folks have lost their jobs, some temporarily, while others permanently. Pubs, for instance, have been shut down in most countries, effectively leaving workers in those spaces unemployed. There is also the constant barrage of negative news from the media. At the moment, there is no known vaccine for the virus, and the death rate is alarming. All of these can precipitate, when not escalating, mental health challenges faced by folks during self-isolation.
Self-isolation, as it appears, is inevitable. What then can you do to make sure that you protect your mental health while in isolation? There are several things you can do. They include:
Stick to your routine
It will be expected that in self-isolation, your schedule will be disrupted. Without the need to go outside, you may not feel the need to have your bath on time, brush your teeth or even change your clothes. It might seem cool at first, but your mental health will be impacted if you continue on that path. As much as possible, stick to your former routine, or develop new ones. If you are working from home now, try to behave as though you are still going to your day job. If it is possible, designate a specific part of your house to be your work area.
Exercise
A lot is usually said about how exercise helps the body to keep fit and trim; however, exercise can also help the mind. Admittedly, it may be challenging to get into the mood to exercise while battling anxiety, but it is not impossible. Engaging in exercise can help boost your mood and lift your spirit. Your house may also be constrictive, providing you with limited options. However, this is the time to get ingenious. You can skip, run circles, squat, perform sit-ups and push-ups, all within the confines of your home. In some locations, the government permits people to go outside to engage in just one form of exercise. You have to confirm if that is applicable in your area. In any case, listening to soul-lifting music while carrying out some activities can do wonders for your mind.
Set up a support system
This system could be made up of your friends and family. You can reach out to them from time to time, and they can also check in on you regularly. You can keep in touch online or over the phone. Daily updates can also be beneficial. You can never tell the wonders that hearing from a friend can do for you.
Journal
Journalling can be an excellent way to distract yourself. Writing down your thoughts and feelings can remove the urgency from them and empower you to process them better.
The importance of keeping busy cannot be overemphasized. There are tons of things you can do with all the free time you have. You can learn some new crafts, take an online course, paint, etc. The idea is to keep moving. Never let your mind be idle for extended periods as that can be problematic. You may not feel like doing a lot of things, that is okay. Just focus on the ones that you can.
Keep a healthy diet
When you are home all day, you may lose track of the time and mess up your eating schedule. It is also sometimes the case that you binge-eat unhealthy food (read junk) or eat at odd hours as a form of entertainment. The adverse effects will eventually catch up with you in the long run. It might be hard to get access to fresh foods, but do your best to eat healthily. Connect with the community support groups in your locality to help with shopping. Also, find out if home deliveries are available in your community. If you had a meal plan before the outbreak, try and stick to it. If it is not possible to do, do, find healthy alternatives. Again, do your best to eat healthily.
Be kind to yourself
In this period, make yourself your priority. Be kind to yourself. You may find yourself thinking about your life for too long this period. Do not fall into the trap of dissatisfaction. It might quickly spiral into depression. Limit your intake of negative news. You may want to turn off the television and any other digital device once in a while.
There is no doubt that at the end of this epidemic, the world will be radically impacted. A lot of the things we know now will be changed, and systems of doing things will get perfected. When you emerge from self-isolation, you should not be worse off than when you started. For this to happen, you need to take conscious steps to preserve your mental wellbeing.