Coronavirus: Staying Mentally Healthy During the Lockdown

 The coronavirus pandemic has led to a number of measures to prevent the spread of the disease COVID-19, such as social distancing and the lockdown. But we must not forget that these measures also have an impact on our mental health. What psychological consequences await us during the lockdown and how can you deal with them? Discover the tips from your online pharmacist.

Social distancing and isolation = stress and anxiety

COVID-19 has plunged the entire world into a particularly stressful uncertainty. During this strange period of lockdown, where social distancing and isolation are the rule, it is important not only to stay physically healthy, but also to maintain your mental well-being. Because just like the corona virus, panic is also contagious and it is not always easy to keep a cool head.
Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations such as an epidemic that requires social distancing, quarantine or isolation. What kind of feelings can you experience?
-Nervousness, concern or fear for your own health or that of others, as well as anger if you think that you or your loved ones have been exposed to the disease through the negligence of others.

-Loneliness, because you are cut off from the world and from your friends and family and because of the stagnation of your social life.

-Frustration and boredom as a result of the quarantine, which means that you can no longer perform your daily activities and your daily routine is lost.

-Nervousness or anxiety because you are temporarily unable to work, possibly lose your income or are unsure about your job security.

-Uncertainty or frustration, because you do not know how long the situation will last or because you are unsure about the future.

-Want to use alcohol or drugs to deal with the situation.

-Symptoms of depression, such as a feeling of despair, a change in your diet and a decrease or increase in how long you sleep.

Dealing with all those emotions can be difficult and peace of mind at the time of the lockdown is therefore not given to everyone. How can you deal with this difficult period without succumbing to stress or even becoming depressed?

A few tips to maintain your mental well-being
Today, the coronavirus is already hitting the clock on social networks and in the media, contributing to an increasingly frightening climate. And yet, paranoia, fear, or stress about COVID-19 will not help you cope or avoid the disease. That's why we give you a few tips to help you de-stress, also during the lockdown:

Real news vs. fake news

Internet, WhatsApp, social networks… “Fake news” is everywhere and only makes people even more scared and paranoid. That is why it is important to be able to discern the correct information (although the abundance of bad news of late does little good for your nervousness and anxiety either).

Realize that the risk you and your loved ones run is real. The media sometimes tends to misrepresent (underestimate or overestimate) the risk of contamination and its consequences for you and others.

Stay in touch with your friends and family

Staying in touch with your family, friends, and others you trust is one of the best ways to combat anxiety, depression, loneliness, and boredom during social distancing and lockdown. Instead of texting or texting, use your webcam to talk to your loved ones. Seeing each other while talking will speed up time and make you forget your “solitary confinement”.

Look for distraction or broaden your horizons

You can use a little distraction now. So start a puzzle, watch a movie or read a good book under the covers to relax and to give yourself a certain balance.
And because you will probably also have more free time during this unique period than usual, now is the perfect time to learn something new, such as a new language, baking bread or painting, for example by means of a tutorial on YouTube.

Keep moving

We have all been at home for weeks, either because we are no longer allowed to go to the office or because the schools are closed, which means we spend even more time behind our screens.
A minimum of exercise is indispensable to stay both physically and mentally healthy, namely one hour a day for children and adolescents and thirty minutes a day for adults.
At the same time, it is also important to ensure that you do not sit still for too long and to get up at least every two hours for a few minutes.
And although you can still go out for a jog during the lockdown, it is still important to stay indoors as much as possible. Therefore, look for alternatives to keep moving indoors. For example, think of:
Cleaning, brushing, sweeping… household chores are physical activities: try to put in a little more energy than usual to keep your muscles busy and, who knows, even sweat a little.
You hardly need any equipment to work on your body at home. With a chair, a few full bottles of water or the bottom step of the stairs you can give all your muscle groups a good workout. And especially if you have stairs at home: up and down a few times a day. And you can also use standard furniture such as your chairs for stretching.
And finally, work on your balance: try brushing your teeth while standing on one leg, for example.

Prevention above all!

Finally, we would also like to repeat the best tips to protect yourself and your family and to prevent the spread of as much as possible:
-Stay at home, especially if you are sick.
-Wash your hands often.
-Use a new tissue paper each time and throw it away in a closed trash can. No handkerchief? Cough or sneeze into the inside of your elbow.
-Don't shake hands, kiss or hug.
-Pay extra attention to risk groups (people over 65 years old, people with diabetes, people with heart, lung or kidney problems, people who are prone to infections…).
-Do not let children come into contact with old people. Children do not get very sick from the corona virus, but they can easily pass it on.
-Keep enough distance (1.5 meters) if you do have to go outside.
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Take care of your physical and mental health during this difficult time. Together we will get through it!