How To Shield Your Mental Health

📌"A lot of anxiety is rooted in worrying about the unknown and waiting for something to happen”. Coronavirus is that on a macro scale.

Coronavirus has plunged the world into uncertainty and the constant news about the pandemic can feel relentless. This is taking its toll on people's mental health, especially those already living with anxiety disorders. Being concerned about the news is understandable, but for many people, it can make the mental wellbeing and existing mental health problems worse😷.

So how can we protect our mental health?🤔 Here are a few tips from BBC News!

⭕️ Limit the news and be careful what you read,

Limit the amount of time you spend reading or watching things which aren't making you feel better. Perhaps decide on a specific time to check in with the news (only afternoon news for instance) There is a lot of misinformation swirling around - stay informed by sticking to trusted sources of information such as government, NHS or official university websites.

⭕️ Have BREAKS from social media and MUTE things which are triggering anxiety,

Mute keywords which might be triggering anxiety on twitter and unfollow or mute accounts that trigger your anxiety-related thoughts or mood. Mute WhatsApp groups and hide Facebook posts (accounts) and feeds if you find them too overwhelming.

⭕️ Stay connected with people,

Increasing numbers will join those already in self-isolation so now might be a good time to make sure you have the right phone numbers and email addresses of the people you care about.

It might end up actually feeling like quite a productive time. You could work through your to-do list or read a book you'd been meaning to get to. Reconnect and get in touch with those you have always have been meaning to reach out to, but couldn't earlier.

⭕️ Avoid burnout,

It is crucial to have DOWN TIME! Continue to access nature and sunlight wherever possible. Do exercise, eat well and stay hydrated. Strike a balance between having a routine and making sure each day has some variety.

⭕️ “Apple”🍎 your thoughts,

To deal with anxiety and worries, AnxietyUK suggests practising the "Apple" technique:

📍Acknowledge: Notice and acknowledge the uncertainty as it comes to mind. 📍Pause: Don't react as you normally do. Don't react at all. Pause and breathe. 📍Pull back: Tell yourself this is just the worry talking, and this apparent need for certainty is not helpful and not necessary. It is only a thought or feeling. Don't believe everything you think. Thoughts are not statements or facts. Take charge of your thoughts and simply do you! 📍Let go: Let go of the thought or feeling. It will pass. You don't have to respond to them. You might imagine them floating away in a bubble or cloud. 📍Explore: Explore the present moment, because right now, in this moment, all is well. Notice your breathing and the sensations of your breathing. Notice the ground beneath you. Look around and notice what you see, what you hear, what you can touch, what you can smell. Right now. Then shift your focus of attention to something else - on what you need to do, on what you were doing before you noticed the worry, or do something else - mindfully with your full attention.

Stay Home, Safe&Healthy 💚❤️

Author: Ali Aljanobe

Source:

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-51873799?fbclid=IwAR04fRmQbuDSiIn9THEtVcF1KGVB3sqf4jnlik9-kabxGLK4fSG4_h1kaV4