The Importance Of Taking Care Of Mental Health In The Second Year Of The Pandemic
Although the first wave of coronavirus infections was the greatest challenge when it came to adapting to a new and unprecedented situation, in the second year of the pandemic it is necessary not to neglect everything related to mental health.
And many times, problematic contexts that last for many months are especially good at exploiting our vulnerabilities, among other things because we underestimate them and think we get used to them, without being aware of how they wear us down.
Therefore, in this article we will see several mental health elements to which we must pay special attention if we do not want the second year of the pandemic to lead us to develop psychological problems.
Aspects of mental health to continue taking care of in the face of the pandemic
These are the mental health elements to take care of and prioritize especially during the second year of the pandemic.
1. Anxiety management
Anxiety is the inseparable companion of the coronavirus pandemic. Both COVID-19 itself and the consequences derived from its economic and social impact have made many people notice that their lives are faltering. and given this, it is easy for your nervous system to always be in “vigilance” mode to react quickly to the slightest sign that something around us is going wrong.
Now, although as individuals we cannot do anything to prevent the COVID-19 crisis from causing us to go through difficult times, we can modify the way in which we manage our emotions and our behavior patterns in the face of it. And that means knowing how to give an adaptive outlet to anxiety.
2. Managing loneliness
The tendency to adopt more solitary habits is still present even if “hard” confinement plans are no longer carried out. The wear and tear caused by spending many months barely going to meetings with family and friends can take its toll, especially on the most extroverted people who are more accustomed to face-to-face contact.
3. Self-care
In many cases, changing our lifestyle creates the right situations for us to abandon ourselves more and more, neglecting our physical and mental health. By losing the references of what we had already become accustomed to doing, such as work schedules outside the home and activity routines with friends, Indecision leads us towards passivity, and this leads us to internalize new customs that we accept only because “they are given to us.” and they are easy to carry out. Staying up late watching videos on the Internet, eating a lot between meals, spending hours in front of the television…
Given this, it is necessary to know how to follow a certain discipline when structuring our daily lives and not constantly postpone what we should really do for our own good.
4. Managing expectations
Both work and personal expectations must be readjusted to adapt to the pandemic context. During the first months of the coronavirus crisis, concerns were focused on the short term: the need to face an unprecedented health crisis, the risk of losing the source of income in a matter of a few weeks, the problems in traveling, etc.
Now, however, is the time to adapt to a post-COVID-19 reality, which means modifying our long-term plans, for better and for worse. New business models that take advantage of the Internet, savings plans to prevent problems in cases of other waves of infections, etc. All this makes it necessary combine anxiety management with strategic thinking and rational decision-making which can be complex.
5. The dynamics of coexistence
Finally, we cannot forget that the emotional exhaustion produced by a pandemic context multiplies if it affects our coexistence with others. Problems effectively managing discussions, poor management of time together, communication failures… We must also know how to adapt to the social dimension of the coronavirus crisis.
Do you want to start going to psychological therapy?
If there are aspects of your daily life that cause you emotional discomfort or you have noticed that the way you face the challenges in your life causes you problems, contact us.
In PSiCOBAi We serve people of all ages and offer psychotherapy in person (in Majadahonda) and online (through video call sessions).
