Managing Mental Health During COVID-19 Lockdowns

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen many states in Australia being forced to lockdown. The lockdown in Melbourne from July to October that lasted 112 days was termed one of the harshest in the world, and the subsequent lockdowns saw a decline in the mental health of Victorians. Long periods of solitude, hopelessness and anxiety around the lockdowns led to a rise in calls to mental health organisations like Lifeline and Beyond Blue.

With different states going into lockdown when a community case of COVID-19 is reported, it is essential to know how to manage your mental health while isolating at home. Whether you choose to meditate, take a break from all social media and the news, or talk to a doctor online, having a plan in place to keep your anxiety and depressive thoughts at bay is imperative.

Tips for looking after your mental health in a pandemic

- Limit news

When you’re sitting at home with nothing to do, it is easy to get caught up in the news, daily COVID tally, social media and media conferences. But experts say that being updated with the latest COVID-related news may be doing more harm than good. When you see the day-to-day cases rising, it can fill you with feelings of anxiety and hopelessness, which is why it is so important to disconnect.

Find times in your day when you can completely disconnect from all sources of news, including news channels, social media and even your mobile phone. Give yourself a break from distressing news and use the time to focus on connecting with family, build a few more skills or work on your hobbies.

- Meditate

Useful breathing techniques, such as box breathing can help you calm yourself down in situations of extreme stress, and performing it several times a day can help keep anxiety at bay. This technique involves taking measured deep breaths in and out alternating between inhaling for 4 counts, holding for 3 counts, then exhaling for 4 counts and then repeating for up to 4 cycles.

Switch YouTube on and use your time away from social media to follow a yoga routine, which has the added benefit of keeping you fit while gyms are closed.

- Focus on what you can control

Remember that professionals around the world are working as hard as they can to find ways to get us all safely out of this pandemic. It is important to remember that you are not the only one in the situation and the only thing you can control in a pandemic is how you react to it. Acknowledge your feelings, but don’t let them overcome you. Follow all safety guidelines, maintain your distance and in time, we’ll find a way out of this situation.

- Talk to a doctor online

If you feel like your anxiety is increasing by the day and is making it hard for you to cope, don’t be afraid to reach out to your GP or talk to a doctor online to get a referral for a therapist. All healthcare professionals are ready to help you and many GPs and therapists are offering online services, so don’t hesitate to take advantage of telehealth and get help if you need it.