For those struggling with a more seasonal sort of depression this could be a particularly frustrating time. Again the sun is out and when you'd ordinarily be hitting better days; feeling alive, soaking up good energy, warmth, and vitamin D with your social circle—WE'RE STILL WAITING. From what ever perspective you want to look at it, in the house bored as you should be or out and about enjoying the areas open with their limits and in a mask.
Social distancing and isolation ultimately has an effect on depression actually making it worse. From experience I get really good at holing up and cutting off social interaction when the mood arises. Fortunately and unfortunately I'm a distancing pro. And I definitely recognize that this comfort in isolation can be both a result and cause of deeper depressive issues.
I have plenty of moments where social avoidance is my jam, convincing myself I'm good on my own, ignoring messages and I can be gone for who knows how long... until it passes. Then I wind up feeling lonely and left out wondering why no one includes me in anything after so long in solitude when my mood is finally up again (cringing at the selfishness of it all).
Corona now in 2020 has left the general public with little to no choice but to spend most of our days by ourselves. You could be with family, roommates, a significant partner but that feeling alone of being restricted... no one enjoys being stuck. Day after day with the monotony of staring at the walls that can take a toll.
The only thing I want to say as cliché as it may sound is YOU AREN'T DOING THIS BY YOURSELF. There's a link between loneliness, isolation, depression and anxiety which has been studied for a while even years BC (before corona). Heaven only knows how many people mid corona are at this point psychoanalyzing themselves.
Mental health history or not, acknowledging that you are having a negative reaction is the first step. Without beating yourself up about it, and I know this might be triggering, let's think back...
When was the last time you showered?
When was the last time you practiced proper dental hygiene?
When was the last time you put on clothes that weren't pajamas or sweats?
When did you last leave the current room you're in?
When did you last make your meals and didn't order out?
When did you last sleep well? Not long, but well?
When did you last go outdoors for some sun, some air?
When did you last exercise, get up, stretch your body even just a little?
When did you last connect with your friends?
The way we are right now days can bleed into each other, time gets away from you and it's actually very natural to lose yourself. Blink once just to notice you've gone days without any self care, indulging in foods and drinks that are unhealthy, etc.. it happens.
But there are ways to choose happiness overall. We can fight to not let our minds win.
Building a routine managing your time and keeping track of it helps. Finding activities you're interested in and genuinely look forward to instead of FORCING yourself to move every day or FORCING yourself to cook. Try challenging yourself with recipes you've never done before. That kind of thing motivates me all the time because I'm a learner at heart. Listen to music and dance around the house instead of traditionally working out if that's your thing. Zoom a friend of yours and complete a session together. Kill two birds with one stone. I'll come back to this.
Remember it is ok to go out. Just with guidelines. Keep your distance and take a walk it doesn't have to be long or rigorous. Eat your food outside if you're able to. The sun is here regardless of the pandemic don't let him go to waste. Bask in the glory and immense value. Vitamin supplements help along with vit D food sources such as fish, yogurt, and eggs. On the topic of diet limit the amount of alcohol along with the processed, sugary, and greasy meals you consume.
Take on in-home projects because the atmosphere at home makes a world of difference. What good is staying in the house if you can't stand the place. See what you want to change, what you can change and make the steps to change them. You don't necessarily have to overhaul your entire space and keep it perfectly clean, though the amount of DIY home renovation tutorials I've seen on Tiktok have me thinking...
Anyway declutter, add some light, sometimes it's the smallest things.
Back to being social. Talk it out. Communication has always been key in this life. Even when it's the last thing you want to do that's usually when you notice it's the one fix you need. We can't meet up and vent over drinks or have brunch to catch up but in this digital age, is that really a stop?
Zoom, Houseparty, Facetime, Instagram lives, the regular-degular text and call. It's nothing to schedule a virtual hangout these days. Workout in them, have classes, paneled discussions, heck you can have birthday parties. The only hurdle is to show up and honestly where else do you got to be? Everyone is at home either on the phone, watching a movie, or asleep... there's nothing to be intimidated about.
The social circle we relentlessly avoid often turns out to be the therapy we craved all along and without knowing the person on the other line has been waiting to hear from you. And this is advice I need to take for myself as I'm over here dishing it.
Professionals are also still available if that's the particular route necessary for you. Being that everyone is different these little paragraphs I'm writing don't measure up to the help that can come from services like Talkspace, Betterhelp, and other remote counseling opportunities. Some through local avenues if you do your research.
We're all trying to survive this new normal because believe it or not, no matter how this country wants to paint it, we'll be here for some time. However there's no reason protecting our physical health should come at the detriment of our mental.
I'm rooting for every single one of us. No matter the struggle you're facing right now, your testimony will come on the other side.
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