5 Ways to Reduce Stress and Anxiety During a 10-14 Day Quarantine Situation
Everyone experiences stress and anxiety from time to time. However, it’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused the stress of the general public to spike in unprecedented ways. With schools and businesses closing, employees getting laid off, and the inability to spend time with friends and loved ones, life has changed for everyone in a significant way.
Tips for managing anxiety >>
Though we can still do some activities like go to the grocery store and take walks, those who are travelling between states or countries or have come into contact with a sick person are required to quarantine themselves for 10-14 days to ensure that they haven’t contracted the virus. During these short but intensified quarantines, mental health can take an even more significant dip.
Treatment options for anxiety >>
If you’re nervously heading into a 10-14 day quarantine, you’re not alone. Here are the top 5 ways to take control of your mental health and reduce anxiety during a short-term quarantine.
- Reach out to loved ones. During an intense period of quarantining, it can be easy to feel isolated. Making the effort to connect with friends, family, or a significant other using phone or video calls can help to ease those feelings.
- Start or continue regular therapy appointments. If you already have a therapist, a forced quarantine is definitely not the time to skip any appointments. If you don’t have one, however, a therapist could be just what you need to get through your quarantine with a calm and happy mind.
- Journal. Untangling our thoughts on our own can be difficult—that’s why journaling can be so helpful. When you write down your thoughts and feelings, it can help to compartmentalize and understand them better so you can more clearly figure out how to handle them.
- Keep up your self care. Those that are suffering from depression tend to neglect self-care practices like eating regularly or exercising, and these habits can fall by the wayside during a quarantine too. Maintaining your self-care rituals will help to enforce a sense of routine, which eases anxiety and depression symptoms.
- Take news breaks. During the pandemic, staying up to date on the latest news feels very important. However, constantly inundating yourself with bad or scary news can greatly worsen symptoms of anxiety. Being informed is important, but how much can really change from one minute to the next? Make sure to take regular breaks from the news to watch a funny TV show or read a book.
