If you have a history of mental illness or depression, these feelings can flare up.
“While these feelings are completely understandable, given the unprecedented nature of the situation, it is important for everybody — especially those who are predisposed to mental health conditions — to learn how to cope and manage any added stress being experienced,” said Paul Miller, CEO of Cipla Medpro.
WAYS TO DEAL AND COMBAT DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY DURING THESE TIMES
MAKE SURE YOU SET A ROUTINE
Stay in that routine. Don’t sleep until 11:00 and only get dressed at 17:00. It can make you feel like you have no purpose to your day. A routine can help you flourish and give certainty to how your day will go during uncertain times.
GO OUTSIDE
Try and go outside for at least 10 minutes per day. Soak up the warm sun. Luckily, in South Africa, we have clear skies and sunshine almost every day. Make the most of it. You don’t need a big backyard — you can just look up at the sky.
GROUND YOURSELF
This means to take off your shoes. Go outside and feel the ground underneath you. Focus on what you feel and what you hear.
GET DRESSED
Make sure you get up and get dressed every day. We all like pyjamas, but by doing this you will feel like you did something for yourself for the day.
BE PRODUCTIVE
Do at least one productive thing every day. Send that work email. Bake a cake. Make dinner. Do the washing. Don’t just lie on your bed.
