Several months into this global health crisis and we’re beginning to identify more and more outcomes. With each passing day, there is new evidence about factors like viral spread, economic fallout, and possible re-openings. Right from the start, however, experts were warning about the long-term impact of the pandemic on our collective mental health.
In particular, the loss of social contact can fuel depression. This means it could trigger already existing cases or could cause new cases of depression. Indeed, COVID-19 infection is not the only condition that requires vigilance.
Why COVID Isolation Can Fuel Depression
If you wear a mask, maintain social distancing, and wash your hands often, you can at least feel confident that you’re making smart choices. But what happens when a couple of these choices aren’t as helpful for your emotional wellbeing?
The cycle of depression is tough to navigate. This disorder can be caused or exacerbated by social withdrawal. Consequently, when we begin feeling bad, we can choose to self-isolate. At first, it seems like a self-loving choice. But without any community, the depression will likely worsen.
Now, factor in COVID-19. We are being implored to withdraw and not show our faces as literal life-saving measures. However, as touched on above, isolation can both cause or worsen depression. It is important for you to become your own essential worker. Show up each day to safeguard your mental health — regardless of all that’s going on in 2020.
4 Ways to Overcome the Loss of Social Contact During the Pandemic
1. Set Up and Maintain a Daily Routine
Get to bed at roughly the same time each night and set an alarm for the morning.
Be sure to get out of your pajamas, no matter what.
Set up an easy-to-follow cleaning schedule.
Take breaks to stretch, move, and exercise.
If you’re working from home, set up a dedicated space for that work.
2. Schedule in Social Interactions
This means more than texts, chats, or emails. Plan out times to talk on the phone or video chat. If it’s feasible and safe, make in-person arrangements. Either way, the goal is to not let more than a day or two pass without such a meet-up.
3. Take Tech Breaks
The headlines can be your enemy. Of course, it is important to stay informed but there’s a huge difference between that and being fixated. Even the most casual scroll down one’s news feed is enough to inspire withdrawal.
4. Try Something New
It may sound corny but there is always an opportunity to be found when a crisis strikes. The life disruptions of the past few months may be the ideal time to try something like:
Enroll in an online class
Learn a new skill or language
Take up a musical instrument
Start a daily meditation practice
Add something fresh to your workout routine
Join a virtual book club
Thanks to all the online options available to you, the phrase “what a time to be alive” can also mean something positive in 2020!
Maintaining Social Contact With a Therapist
The circumstances of 2020 can make social interactions feel daunting for many reasons, e.g.
Safety concerns
Financial issues
Political differences
Underlying those and other factors is the presence of depression. It’s a recipe for isolation which, as you know, will not improve the situation. This is why so many people have recently opted to start counseling — often via video chat.
Regular sessions will give you room to discuss your fears, confusion, and concerns. Working with a seasoned therapist allows you to identify how to counteract the inevitable pitfalls of life in the midst of a global pandemic. I am ready and able to help you. Read more about depression therapy and contact me soon for a consultation.
