What has COVID taught us about mental health?
It’s not surprising that our mental health, as well as our physical health, was impacted by the pandemic. The ongoing uncertainty, enforced isolation (quarantine), remote working and learning, the constant distressing headlines and death tolls, and lack of social interaction, shook many of us to the core. However, this extraordinary global experience gave us valuable insights into mental wellness, lessons we would do well to remember and apply.
Routines matter
When our daily routines were disrupted, we suddenly realised the importance of structure for our daily wellbeing and motivation. Routines provide a positive structure to our day: They signal a change in the time of day, let us know when to eat, sleep, when to exercise, get sunlight when to relax, and they give us more time for the things we value and enjoy. Therapists encouraged us not to sleep late and work from our pyjamas, but to set our alarm clocks and dress as if going to the office to set our intentions for the day. Scheduling time out also became important as many of us found ourselves working longer hours from the kitchen table at home than at work.
Spotlight on emotions
Celebrities, athletes, and everyday people went online during the pandemic to share their feelings and struggles, helping to reduce the stigma that is often associated with mental health. This helped us feel that we were not alone with our thoughts and encouraged us to become more aware of how we were feeling, to accept our emotions without judgement, and those of others as we endured the ongoing uncertainty.
Fill the toolbox
Most of our “go-to” coping skills were taken away during the lockdowns. Gyms and societies closed, large events such as scheduled runs and cycles were cancelled and we found ourselves sitting at home, somewhat lost without our usual mood boosters. Eventually, we found other coping skills. We binge-watched Netflix to distract, industriously signed up for online yoga/pilates classes or took online skills courses, became overnight baking and cooking sensations, furiously deep-cleaned and organized the house, or turned into masters at words with friends (a form of online scrabble). The pandemic showed us the importance of having a range of tools to cope with distress and distract us from its intensity of it.
Online therapy works
Without in-person visits to professionals being allowed, many shifted to online professional therapy and found that it works just as well as in person. While some were pleased to go back to seeing therapists face-to-face, others have chosen to maximise the benefit of not having to commute to appointments.
Mental strength needs exercise
Just as our physical muscles need ongoing strength training, so too do our mental muscles, otherwise, they become weak. The pandemic required us to build our mental muscles every single day and many of us learnt to keep gratitude journals, challenge ourselves physically, and take positive action to reduce self-doubt. Just knowing that we survived the pandemic (even with some emotional scars), should help build our confidence going forwards. Perhaps we are stronger than we think.
Connection is important
We also learnt how important it is to have supportive networks to get through the bad times and gain outside perspective. Being able to pick up the phone when physical contact was not possible, to reach out to those in need, or to the lonely was invaluable. Unable to visit granny on Sundays reminded us how important touch and care is. When we were at last able to meet our friends and extended family in person, we realised how much we all missed and valued human contact.
If you, or your family, are struggling with mental health, you can contact LifeAssist to speak to a counsellor at no cost to you.
