TAKE CARE, MIND AND SELF
TAKE CARE, MIND AND SELF
by Jeanine Garcia (12B - HUMSS)| Published October 2020
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With the ongoing pandemic, the mind and the self are at their most vulnerable. Angst, fear, restlessness and depression are becoming more common. People are advised to stay home, and with the monotony and limited social interactions, everyone is waiting for the day that the pandemic eventually dies down. Suspending physical learning, canceling plans that were made for the year, and adjusting to the "new normal” are just some of the things that people are experiencing right now. These are things that a lot of people are still having a hard time accepting. Given this, many teenagers feel that they are missing out on the biggest adventures in their adolescent lives because of this pandemic, and it causes a lot of strain on their mental health.
A strained mental health makes coping with the ordinary demands of life much harder. It is bound to affect one's thoughts, behavior, emotions, and energy. A heavy feeling can affect one's mind and disrupt concentration, thereby affecting one's performance in school or at work. Thus, the need to take care of one’s mental health is a must, especially now that it's almost the end of the year and people are usually already gearing up for festivities. Here are some suggested ways in order to protect our mental health amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
1. Acknowledge the state of mind you are currently in.
1. Acknowledge the state of mind you are currently in.
It is important to be aware of what state of mind you are in, because this will help you identify the problem and find possible solutions. It is normal to feel anxious and stressed at first. Do not rush the process of getting better. However, you must also not let it worsen by ignoring your mental state.
2. Try to calm down and relax.
2. Try to calm down and relax.
Take your mind off your problems and engage in healthy activities. It is advised that doing something that can distract your mind can eliminate stress and anxiety. Watch your favorite movie or read an interesting book to relieve your worries, or maybe practice a known skill that you want to master.
Photo from MentalFloss
3. Take a break from the media that heightens your stress.
3. Take a break from the media that heightens your stress.
If the news coverage does more damage than good, and it makes you feel even worse, then it’s best to just avoid it. Rather than worrying about things that you cannot control, focus on the small, immediate problems that you can solve.
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4. Talk to someone that you are comfortable with.
4. Talk to someone that you are comfortable with.
Remember that it is not healthy to bottle up your feelings and hide it under the rug. You should share your emotions and thoughts every once in a while, lest it manifests in more explosive ways. The best way to do this is to find someone you are at ease with whom you can talk to.
5. Always remember that you are not alone.
5. Always remember that you are not alone.
If you need help, you should not be afraid to ask for it. Try to consult a professional if possible, or someone who is reachable at the moment. Do not try to do everything by yourself. It is natural to seek help from others, and everyone needs a little help sometimes. Do not be afraid to go to someone who will help improve your state of mind.
One ought to take care of oneself before offering help to others, because if one is not in the right state, then how can he take care of others? Remember that everything starts with the self, and that it is not wrong to monitor the mental health of someone important such as yourself.
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