Did anybody of us imagine we would witness this in our lifetime? Well, probably not. Corona has proven out to be not just an infectious disease but a weapon of mass destruction.
When we talk about this destruction, we often limit ourselves to the death toll, loss of jobs and the subsequent global recession.
Are we missing on something? Indeed.
What about the mental health of our people?
The severe outbreak of this disease has ended up in stressing a huge section of the society. According the reports, people are coming up to state that they are falling prey to anxiety and depression as they have nothing to do at homes.
What is the reason behind this?
Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children like sadness. However, we need to understand that sadness and depression are two distinct terms and cannot be used synonymously.
What is the difference between sadness and depression?
Being sad is a normal part of life. It may come because of our surroundings. If you experienced a big change in your life, like expulsion from a ten-year-old job, for example, it’s reasonable for you to feel sad. While sadness may eventually evolve into depression, it’s important to understand that depression is a clinical mental health condition.
It is a mental health disorder characterised by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life. Although a sad environmental factor can trigger them, they can also seemingly come out of nowhere.
Some of the most common symptoms of depression can be –
• loss of energy
• depressed mood
• trouble sleeping or oversleeping
• changes in appetite
However, it is impossible to understand that, episodes of major depression last at least 2 weeks at a time.
Therefore, If your mood starts to interfere with your everyday life, you may be developing depression. To ensure this, you need to visit a mental health professional, who will help you receive an accurate diagnosis and explore various treatment options.
However, coping with stress will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger which will help us fight this crisis better!
Thus, we are here to help you out! To sustain a healthy living during this lockdown period, you can engage yourself in various activities which will help you avoid depression and fight this time of crisis.
WHAT IS THE TOP 5 THINGS THAT CAN HELP YOU AVOID DEPRESSION WHILE BEING AT HOME?
1. Wake up early and meditate
The prominent saying “The Early bird gets the worm” is evident of how waking up early has proven to be beneficial for ages now. The first thing to do when you wake up is meditate. Believe me, the potential of meditating even for a few minutes will yield you some tangible benefits.
Meditation will give you a sense of balance and calm, which will provide you with inner peace and help improve overall feelings of well-being.
2. Video Call with your old friends
Getting in touch with our old buddies is something all of us would love to cherish. The distance which grew due to the hectic schedules and humdrums of life,now stands to be abridged. So pick up your phones, and get reminiscent of the good old days with your favourites on video call. Researches claim that talking your heart out to your friends is like a therapy to depression!
3. Dance a little
At some point of our lives, we’ve all been a Shammy. However, the struggles of growing up with responsibilities hanging on our shoulders, made us loose him. But friends, this is the time of our lives. So let us bring the Shammy in out and shake our legs with our families. Dancing your heart out will not only relieve you of stress and anxiety but also keep you fit in these times.
4. Have a walk at your terrace
Thanks to Corona, having a good walk in the park of our apartment has become a distant dream for all of us. But this shall pass, so until then why not please ourselves with what we can. Having a walk at your terrace will help us ace not only our physical health but our mental health too!
The beautiful silhouettes of birds against the dimming sky will lift your mood and make the walk worth a while.
5. Read novels
Reading novels has always been like a cherry on the cake, everybody loves them but it’s hard to fetch one easily! With all your days, which seem to be longer right now, help yourself in searching for a good novel. A good novel would not only help you pass-time but prove to be a companion for you.
Also, you can check out these Self-help Books which will help you grow: http://woketofind.com/top-15-self-help-books-to-read-for-personal-development/
What if I need more information on fighting depression?
Plenty of resources are available for people who feel they may be experiencing depression, or who simply want to seek out more information for their mental health and personal well-being.
-Popular meditation apps like Head-space, offers relatively short segments in a free library for sleep and basic meditation, which can help you out.
-Associations like NAMI (National Alliance on Medical Illness) and ADAA can also be contacted for immediate assistance.
At this time of crisis, coping up with stress and anxiety is something we need to prioritise. Therefore, try to engage yourselves as much as possible. Your happiness will make us all happy and then, we shall get through this!
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