The rise of a new pandemic and the system ramifications brought out the emotional instability in most of us. Not only is the pandemic unprecedented, but it is also distressing. We are all adjusting to the new norms. We are grieving the loss of our old ones and relentlessly waiting for a new morning. Most of us have to deal with being away from our loved ones, some have been cut off by their family and friends, and many of us have lost a loved one.
We are all simply trying to get through each day. We manage our daily lives by taking care of our children or our parents, dealing with financial stresses, and adjusting to the new way of living. Such stressors caused by COVID-19 may result in a myriad of negative feelings such as depression, anxiety, and worse, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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This trauma that we are currently experiencing may feel dreary, but this is not the first time a crisis happened in our history. We had 9-11 terrorist attacks, Ebola, and SARS, to name a few. These crises have lead researchers to study how mentally strong people behaved through challenging situations. They have revealed how each individual responds to pandemics in both adaptive and maladaptive ways.
We all know the basics. Like exercising, connecting with family and friends, and eating healthily. However, there are but a few habits that mentally strong people do in times of social distancing to keep their emotional health intact.
1. They limit media and news exposure
Excess exposure to bad news can trigger our fight-or-flight response. When something causes stress, it is only right to limit your intake; this goes the same way for media and news exposure.
It is indeed tempting to check online trackers to see the latest statistics on the cases of COVID-19. It is also necessary to be updated and to be aware of what the current pandemic situation is. However, constantly check the news and tracker sites every now and then won’t do you any good.
Researchers have concluded that media exposure and the 24/7 news cycle can lead to traumatic stress. For instance, after the 9-11 terrorist attacks, several hours of watching the news had caused PTSD and new physical health issues 2-3 years later in participants.
Experts suggest that individuals must only pick one trusted source for updated information and only visit the site once a day.
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2. They don’t waste too much time on social media
This pandemic and stay-at-home set-up made us turn to social media to fill up our days in times of boredom. In this way, we feel more connected to other people even if we are not physically together. But research has shown that too much social media exposure— especially Facebook— can be bad for our mental health.
There’s a direct link between too much Facebook use and deepening unhappiness. Perhaps it’s because of our human inclination to compare ourselves to people who are happier in their lives than we are. But in a situation such as this pandemic, we don’t need more of that negativity.
Worse, people who spread hoaxes and fake news use social media the most as the platform for their bad intention. Because of the way social media platforms’ algorithms work, fake news is likelier to spread the more upsetting the content is.
3. They prioritize self-care
Mentally strong people always maintain their composure in times of emotionally distressing events. They know how to give themselves the right amount of compassion. In times when everything seems to be taking an emotional toll in most of us, we must be resilient and accept that feeling of sadness is normal.
Self-care means that you do not disregard your physical health. You can do so by implementing a work-out routine, eating healthily, and getting the right amount of sleep. Most of all, limit toxic people and turn to your loved ones for emotional support instead. You can turn to them by having a nightly phone call or texting them to tell them how you are doing.
Of course, your need for emotional support depends on your personality. Know what you need to feel supported. Once you figure it out, make sure that you have the right people to supply you with the right emotional support that you need.
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Source: Inc.com