Oct 19

Oct 19 Protect Your Mental Health

If I had asked you 6 months ago if you could imagine that you would be on day 27 working from home in isolation due to a global pandemic you would not have been able to picture it. Yet here we are, faced with a huge amount of uncertainty from day-to-day. While we navigate this “new normal”, it is so important to pause and reflect on our own personal mental health. How are you?

Our bodies are literally going through a fight or flight response daily as we are receiving new information and updates on Covid-19. Stress directly impacts our sympathetic nervous system, which creates the physical effects of stress such as heart palpitations, pupils expanding, rapid shallow breaths, and any other physical ailment you relate to stress. Our parasympathetic nervous system is in charge of calming these reactions, and we can assist by doing calming activities such as yoga, calm breathing, movement, mindfulness, and any other practice you enjoy.

But what about the feelings and emotions that we can’t control? Nobody could have predicted the situation we are in, and if you are reading this and thinking you have heard it all before and are still struggling to cope; I have compiled a few Covid-19 specific tips below to help with protecting your mental health.

Tips to Protect your Mental Health

Choose a reputable news source.

Do not, and I repeat, do not listen or watch sensationalized news all day. It will only add to the stress on your body and inflame any current stress, anxiety, isolation, or depression you are feeling. Instead choose to stay connected with your local government updates and any other reliable news sources, such as the WHO or the CDC.

Maintain social connections.

Stay in touch as best you can! We live in a virtual age, and there are so many technologies available to assist us. This is a great time to reach out to friends and family who live abroad and reconnect. Staying connected makes us feel a part of something bigger, and if you are living alone this one is especially important.

Get involved with your virtual community.

Is your community doing anything virtually that you can be a part of? Is there a charity that you feel aligned with that you can donate to? Just because we cannot volunteer in person doesn’t mean we can’t help!

Bring back the basics.

Good sleep, quality nutrition, movement, fresh air. Don’t get too hung up on everything you see on social media. Try a few things, find what works for you, and live it.

Be kind.

You are the voice inside your head, make it a kind one. Don’t feel like working out today? That’s ok, try again tomorrow. Don’t want to bake the homemade banana bread you saw on Instagram? Try again tomorrow. Want to go for a slow walk outdoors instead of doing a HIIT class? Great, do it! Be kind to yourself and with your decisions, you are the one who will look back on this experience. What do you want to remember?

Get outside.

Nature can be so healing, and especially during springtime. Go for a walk, pick some wildflowers, and get some vitamin D.

Start a passion project.

Within reason and your current government guidelines! Start a herb garden, try knitting, reading, flower arranging, baking, coloring, DIY. The internet is a great resource for inspiration right now, have a browse, and see what speaks to you.

Don’t compare yourself to others.

Your journey is yours alone. Do not compare to your best friend or that fitness influencer. You don’t know their journey, and they don’t know yours.

Dive into your spirituality.

Reconnect to a higher power, or reconnect with your faith. Pray, meditate, sing, dance!

Rest!

As mentioned, our nervous systems are going haywire on a daily basis. This is tiring! Give yourself permission to rest as needed. Some days may be more than others, and that is ok.

Practice gratitude.

There is always something to be grateful for. It could be as simple as “I have a safe place to live, food in the pantry, and a blue sky outside.” Try making a list of 3-5 things daily. It will help you set a positive attitude to carry forward in your day. We’re running a daily gratitude WhatsApp group right now that you can join.

If all else fails – SPEAK TO A PROFESSIONAL

Mental health is incredibly personal and important. If you feel like you cannot cope, and friends and family aren’t the help you need, then reach out to a professional. Please know that you are not alone and that it is ok to ask for help.

Below are some free resources for all of our jurisdictions we have compiled for your convenience:

Bahamas

The Bahamas Psychological Association
Email: info@bahamaspsych.org
Telephone Contact : 1-242- 356-0039
Pan-American Health Organization & The Public Health Authority
(PAHO) Telephone Contact: 1-242-326-7390 / 1-242-326-7299
(PHA) Telephone Contact : 1-242-502-1420
(PHA) Email: info@phabahamas.org
Sandilands Rehabilitation Center
Telephone Contact: 1-242-324-1246 or 1-242-364-9601
The Bahamas National Art Gallery
Website: https://nagb.org.bs/for-families
email: info@nagb.org.bs
Telephone: 328-5800

Cayman

Mental Health Hotline
1-800-534-6463(MIND)
Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm to talk to our Mental Health Hotline.
Cayman Government
https://www.exploregov.ky/getting-assistance

Bermuda