In 2020, as the pandemic sweeps the world, there has been an unprecedented spike in the stress and anxiety experienced by people everywhere.
We are facing a mental health crisis. The Mental Health America (MHA) reports that anxiety screenings have almost quadrupled from January till May with thousands of people testing positive for depression and moderate-to-severe anxiety.
Experts are continuously discussing what has caused this spike. Apart from the severe and sudden disruption of life that this pandemic has caused, other factors have led to this increase in mental health issues.
Fear of Covid-19 has deeply impacted our movement and understanding of the space around us. Unfortunately, this fear is not unfounded. As of now, America stands as the number 1 country in the world with the highest death toll. In addition to this, there is a socio-economic crisis on the rise because thousands of Americans have lost their jobs and/or businesses. Finally, more chaos comes from radical protests against our federal institutions while media, the BLM, and other movements are promoting a dark spin on life as we know it.
There is more to add here but looking at all these crises, it makes sense why the mental health of so many people is beginning to suffer. To get through this difficult time, here are a couple of things you can do to alleviate your stress without resorting to over the counter anxiety medication:
Quick Breathing Exercises
This is rarely talked about but is a highly effective method of reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. Let a breath of air sink into your lungs and hold it. Slowly release it and keep repeating for at least 4-6 minutes to feel the results. Check out this simple pamphlet for the 4:7:8 breathing exercise.
Guided Meditation for 5 Minutes Every Day
These sessions are designed to be quick so whenever you start your day, take out 5 to 10 minutes to focus on grounding yourself in the present moment – reminding yourself to not feel overwhelmed by negative thoughts. Here is a list of the 11 best-guided meditation apps that have helped its users immensely.
Invest in AtEase glasses
Limit sensory overload when you are undergoing stress or anxiety by eliminating visual triggers. Research has shown that visual stimulus often heightens the stress signals in your brain when you are undergoing an anxiety or panic attack. These new, certified, highly endorsed, and patented optical glasses can help you focus, feel relaxed, and keep anxiety at bay.
Remember: Take care of yourself and find ways to have solitude and peace if you are suffering physically or mentally. Nothing and no one will really help you feel better unless you care and try to do it yourself.