The fact that we are now facing social isolation has pushed us to modify our habits and routines. The circumstances facing the coronavirus are new to most, and fear is normal but when the human being is being submerged in scenarios like this, involving a lot of stress, the adrenal glands (the tiny organs located in each kidney in charge of producing essential hormones) start secreting adrenaline, the hormone that puts us on alert when we are in danger.
When adrenaline is constantly being secreted it causes an increase in the heart rate and blood pressure. The blood, instead of going to the head, stomach, and genitals, goes to the arms and legs.
Fear is a basic emotion and necessary for survival when you feel in danger
Fear is a basic emotion, necessary for survival when there is danger, it activates the brain network to avoid threats and allows us to take necessary measures to protect ourselves. What you must avoid is panic: extreme fear, often collective and contagious, which activates our primitive behavior.
Then arises a question: What can you do for your mental health care during a COVID-19 emergency? Here are some tips to manage your mental health:
1. Try to maintain daily routines and connection with your loved ones and friends. Do not isolate yourself in the fully furnished apartment, but change the way you relate to others, seeking communication with family and friends through the Internet, and online meetings, since social support is key to dealing with this situation.
2. During times of stress, pay attention to your own needs and feelings. Stop, breathe and participate in activities that you enjoy and relax. Eat healthily, keep your sleep routine and don’t forget to exercise.
3. Look for specific times of day to update you on the situation. The constant flow of news can generate stress and anxiety, the best thing to do is to choose certain hours of the day to inform yourself, refer to official sources, so you can avoid rumors and false news.
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4. Protect yourself and support others. Helping others in their time of need can benefit both the person receiving support and the helper.
5. Find and share positive stories and experiences of people who have had the disease and have recovered and from stories around the world about acts of empathy and solidarity in communities. This will help you understand that despite being in a difficult situation, together we will manage to recover and get back to normal.
6. Do not relate the disease to any nationality or ethnic group. Instead, be more empathetic to those who have tested positive for the virus.
7. Take advantage of the time available at home for positive coping activities such as reading, writing, singing, dancing, doing physical exercise at home, crafts, listening to music, or playing an instrument.
8. honored people who work in professions such as medicine and who play an important role in saving our lives. Remember that COVID-19 is an external event that you cannot control, but your thoughts can.
Take advantage of the time available at home for positive activities
Give yourself the space to understand your feelings, emotions, and sensations about the situation and express them. You can write them down or talk to someone about them, but do not be driven by them; instead, look at them in a different perspective and turn every negative thought into an opportunity. You must give yourself (and the people around you) time to adapt to the circumstances, it is a new reality that we are all going through.
Although self-isolation is only mandatory for some cases, and some social measures in Canada have already been relaxed, social distancing is something that will continue to happen over the next few months, so these tips for taking care of your mental health continue to be useful.
If you are one of the people who must isolate themselves and are looking for a place to do so, at Corporate Stays we have suites available. Our furnished apartments in Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver and other cities are to welcome you, with a 24/7 service team to tend to your needs.
