Self-Care for Mental Health During the COVID-19 Crisis

So, we’re just about a month in to this whole shelter in place situation, and the timeline for a return to regularly scheduled programming has been pushed out again. Any hope of a cozy and calm quarantine has faded, and we’re figuring out that there are challenges on top of challenges when it comes to maintaining mental health during COVID-19.

Sure, staying at home in our sweats with our family of choice sounded good in the beginning. Now, reality has set in and the rally cries are losing steam: “I’ll clean out all my closets!” and “I’m going to work out every day” have turned into “What’s new on Netflix?” But guess what? That’s OK.

This is not the time to beat ourselves up with that old familiar voice that tells us we need to do everything perfectly. The reality is, we don’t. We just have to show up every day and do the best we can in every moment.

One day, your best might be getting up and putting on clean clothes. You can feed the cat. Do a work call even if you don’t have a zippy attitude and can’t muster the energy to fake it. Just do what you can, and you’ll get through it one day at a time. It’s OK.

This won’t last forever. Not much does. So, press on; eat chocolate, or call an old friend that makes you laugh. Do what you can. If today doesn’t feel OK, tomorrow, it just might be.

If feelings of lasting depression or thoughts of self-harm are present, there are people that can help immediately. Please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for emergency help.

Or, if you find yourself turning to substances to cope, contact us for help finding a healthier coping mechanism.


Self-Care for Mental Health During the COVID-19 Crisis

Dr. Daniel Pickrell

Dr. Daniel Pickrell
Medical Reviewer

Dr. Pickrell is a board-certified psychiatrist with interests in addiction and psychiatry. He strives to identify the underlying cause of substance use. His understanding of addiction as the overlapping symptoms of biopsychosocial development is the foundation to his care model. He is committed to helping both patients and families understand that addiction is a treatable medical illness. He has been involved in the treatment of addiction for the last 17 years and completed his residency training at the University of Utah.

So, we’re just about a month in to this whole shelter in place situation, and the timeline for a return to regularly scheduled programming has been pushed out again. Any hope of a cozy and calm quarantine has faded, and we’re figuring out that there are challenges on top of challenges when it comes to maintaining mental health during COVID-19.

Sure, staying at home in our sweats with our family of choice sounded good in the beginning. Now, reality has set in and the rally cries are losing steam: “I’ll clean out all my closets!” and “I’m going to work out every day” have turned into “What’s new on Netflix?” But guess what? That’s OK.

This is not the time to beat ourselves up with that old familiar voice that tells us we need to do everything perfectly. The reality is, we don’t. We just have to show up every day and do the best we can in every moment.

One day, your best might be getting up and putting on clean clothes. You can feed the cat. Do a work call even if you don’t have a zippy attitude and can’t muster the energy to fake it. Just do what you can, and you’ll get through it one day at a time. It’s OK.

This won’t last forever. Not much does. So, press on; eat chocolate, or call an old friend that makes you laugh. Do what you can. If today doesn’t feel OK, tomorrow, it just might be.

If feelings of lasting depression or thoughts of self-harm are present, there are people that can help immediately. Please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for emergency help.

Or, if you find yourself turning to substances to cope, contact us for help finding a healthier coping mechanism.


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