How to stay mentally healthy during COVID-19 forced isolation
The mental health impacts of the COVID-19 lockdown are leaving many of us stressed out, anxious or depressed. Health and fitness expert Adam MacDougall reveals ways to improve your mental health while being isolated from friends, family and colleagues.
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Australia has been incredibly lucky that our response to the coronavirus has, so far, saved us from the full brunt of the devastation experienced in other parts of the world. But with that response comes another risk, and one that’s likely to impact far more of us than COVID-19 has to date.
Because the only problem with being safe at home as Australia continues to fight this virus is that many of us don’t actually feel all that safe at the moment.
The mental health impacts of a lockdown that show no signs of ending can’t be ignored, and when you combine that with the potential loss of work, the inability to see friends and family, and the underlying fear of actually contracting the virus, it’s little wonder so many of us are feeling stressed out, anxious or depressed.
Mental health advocates Beyond Blue launched a ‘Coping During The Coronavirus Outbreak’ forum in late March, and staff were stunned by the response.
Already the site is being visited by more than 2000 Australians every day — a number they only expect to increase, and far more than the site would normally receive, even during a crisis as severe as this summer’s bushfires.
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What’s more, we’re feeling lonely. It’s called isolation for a reason, and not everyone is at home with their family. Many are locked in by themselves, day after day, without any real social interaction and with no hope on the immediate horizon that things are going to get better.
And that, too, is a serious health risk. Studies have repeatedly found that loneliness is a genuine physical illness that can impact your blood pressure, cardiovascular health, sleep cycles and your immune system.
But while the situation is tough and it could get tougher, it’s not hopeless, and just like we need to maintain our physical health during this difficult period, we also need to focus on maintaining our mental health, too.
If you’re feeling stressed out in isolation, remember that you’re not alone in this, and there a lot of really valuable resources you can access, including those offered by Beyond Blue.
But right now, I want everyone to begin working the following easy steps into their routine, all of which are tried and tested ways of amping up the feel-good factor, which is definitely something we all need more of at the moment.
HOW TO STAY MENTALLY HEALTHY IN ISOLATION
1. Get moving
One of the happy by-products of exercise is that it's a sure-fire way to release a flood of feel-good hormones in the body. Working up a sweat releases neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine, both of which are linked to lower rates of depression because they make you feel great.
2. Explore the not so wide and open spaces
Sure, beaches and National Parks might be off limits, but you can still find smaller ways to engage with nature, be it spending time sitting in your backyard, taking a stroll through your neighbourhood or simply posting up by an open window.
Studies have found that connecting with the environment reduces stress and anger, and increases your feel-good hormones.
3. Stay connected
The benefit of a lockdown striking now, and not 10 years ago, is that we are spoiled for choice when it comes to connecting with family and friends from afar. Whether it’s phone calls, video chats or simple texts, we need to stay connected to the people that matter to us. In fact, almost as soon as I finish writing this my wife and I are having a video dinner with friends of ours.
4. Make time for you
It’s easy to fall into a routine of sleep, work, eat, sleep, repeat, but you need to find a way to work time for yourself into that schedule. Many are using this lockdown as an opportunity to practice a new language or learn to play an instrument, but if that’s too extreme, find the little things that make you happy (meditation, cooking, an hour with a good book) and make time for them every day.
5. It’s all about perspective
While we’re all doing our part by staying inside and helping slow the spread of the virus, remember that the brightest minds right across the globe are working around the clock to solve this problem. And they will solve it. This is not the new normal, it’s an unusual blip that will pass. In the meantime, take care of yourself, and check in on those around you, and we’ll all get through this together.
* Send your questions to adam@themanshake.com.au
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Adam MacDougall is the creator of The Man Shake. A new, healthy, weight loss shake that is low in sugar, full of protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals that you can have on the run and leaves you feeling full.
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Originally published as How to stay mentally healthy during COVID-19 forced isolation