If you’re having thoughts and feelings of anxiety, economic uncertainty, financial struggles, and depression during the pandemic, you’re not alone. Even though the ease of restrictions and the fear of the pandemic has become more moderate, millions of Americans are still struggling with their mental health. Isolation and lack of connection with others for a long time can take a heavy toll on it.
Not only that, but with the onslaught of bad news all around, it’s no wonder people are getting pessimistic and losing hope. People who suffer from depression perceive life differently. To many, it seems bleak and lifeless, where they’re unable to enjoy what they used to love doing. It drains them of the motivation to live life, leading to undesirable thoughts.
That said, if you’re feeling this way for a while, there are things you can do to ease these thoughts. There are various strategies to deal with depression, and we’re here to help you with that. Here are some things you can do to get out of depression during the coronavirus pandemic.
Find Hope in the Little Things
This may sound impossible during this time, but instead of thinking that there is no hope nowadays, think of the future. There are always reasons to be hopeful.
For example, back in Wuhan, China, where the outbreak began, the reported number of cases has significantly reduced, and they’re already easing up restrictions. Not only is it happening in China but around the world. Everything is going back to a normal piece by piece.
Stores are starting to open up, as well as companies and factories. This is good news if you’re out of a job these days. Just think that after the pandemic is over, many companies will open, and there will be a huge demand for workers, making it easier for you to find a job.
The trick here is to change your mindset from a negative one to a more positive one. Sure, it won’t be easy, but it’s worth it. There will always be a brighter day by finding hope in the little things we have left in life. After all, when you’re in the lowest of the low, there’s nowhere to go but up.
Be More Productive
Rather than thinking that your isolation is a prison, think of it as having more free time. With this freedom, find moments of joy by spending it on things you might have missed before.
You can make a list of hobbies and activities you want to do with your free time. For example, you can improve yourself by working out or learning something new, like an instrument or a language. Or you can pick up the books you forgot about and finish them.
If you want something more worthwhile, why not pick up a project like building a shed in your background or making furniture. Maybe it’s time to clean up your place, or you can get into more cooking.
There are a lot of sites on the internet that offer masterclasses on things that you might be passionate about. Whether it’s something you enjoy or something that has interested you for a long time now, you can pick one at your leisure.
A risk of isolation is it feeds more and more negative thoughts into your mind, especially when you have nothing to do and you’re alone with your thoughts. So, instead of risking that, do something productive with your time and distract yourself from negative thoughts. There is always something to do in this life; you just have to find them.
Connect with Others as Much as Possible
Just because you’re isolated in your house doesn’t mean that you can’t connect with others through other means. We can now do video calls anytime with our loved ones and friends, thanks to our expanding technology. You can reconnect with some old friends of yours or probably catch up with what’s happening with your family members in your free time.
You can set up a regular schedule for video calls with your loved ones to make yourself feel less and less isolated. You can even drink and eat together in front of the screen to make meals much less lonely.
Not only that, if you decide to seek help from a professional, you can set up a meeting with them through voice or video calls. With this, they can help you with your mental health even if they’re not there with you physically. They can even recommend a discount card that can be used be used instead of insurance if you take prescription medicines.
They can even give you advice on reducing the price of your prescription meds, like finding online sites that offer discounts or using promotions from pharmacies. With technology, you can connect with everyone anytime, and you’ll feel more connected with your loved ones.
Final Words
The pandemic has taken a toll on a lot of aspects of our lives. From our finances to our emotions, being alone in this time and age can be hard, especially for those suffering from depression and anxiety. But with the help of the tips above and the love and support of our family and friends, we can go through this hardship and get out of it as a new person.
