ADVERTISEMENT
Friday, February 26, 2021
  • Contact Us
My blog
  • Home
  • Health
  • Medicine
  • Nutrition
  • Fitness
  • Diet
  • Weight Loss
  • More
    • Mental Health
    • Healthcare
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Health
  • Medicine
  • Nutrition
  • Fitness
  • Diet
  • Weight Loss
  • More
    • Mental Health
    • Healthcare
No Result
View All Result
My blog
No Result
View All Result
Home Mental Health

Cassandra Lybrink: Mollifying mental health woes during COVID-19 – Opinion – Holland Sentinel

Healthy by Healthy
May 9, 2020
in Mental Health
0
Cassandra Lybrink: Mollifying mental health woes during COVID-19 – Opinion – Holland Sentinel
587
SHARES
3.3k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterPin It

If you’ve suffered from anxiety or depression in the past — and honestly, even if you haven’t — life these days can be pretty disconcerting.

If you’re not working, as many of us aren’t, there’s only so many times you can switch between reading, gaming, gardening, and attempting to contact the unemployment office before you go completely bananas. Sleeping more than seems reasonable for someone who doesn’t do much of anything nowadays? Feeling a distinct lack of productivity?

Then you’ll be at least semi-relieved to hear your reaction to quarantine is entirely normal.

As humans, we crave connection with others. It’s in our nature to explore, interact, socialize. When we aren’t able to do these things, there can be an unconscious regression in our personality. We move inward, since we can’t move outward.

You’re going through enough right now. We all are. There’s nothing wrong with your inability to cook Instagram-worthy dishes. There’s no reason you have to pursue a complex or expensive hobby. It’s okay to do something mindless, if only to pass the time.

In the first trimester of my pregnancy, which started late last summer, I suffered from a bout of high-functioning depression. Essentially, that means I spent days upon days in bed and in pain and felt absolutely terrible about it. By the time I came out of my prenatal depression, it was winter. And by the time winter ended, COVID-19 began.

In many ways, it seems like I haven’t lived a normal life in nearly a year. I long to visit my parents and my friends, far too many of whom haven’t gotten to meet our newborn. And though I can write from home, I desperately miss the days when I could meet my subjects in-person for story interviews.

But my husband and I have discovered a few ways to maintain our sanity during these troubling times, and I thought it might be useful to share them.

(1) Visit the water. I won’t pretend that Holland State Park isn’t crowded more days than not, but there are plenty of turn-offs near Lake Macatawa where you can get out and smell the sweet, lakeside air. Take the time to download Zillow on your phone, and you can spend at least an hour being amazed by the sheer expense of lakeside houses.

(2) Pick up a curbside order from your favorite store or restaurant. It’s unreal how much pleasure you get when you support local businesses who are struggling to weather the storm. Even on days when you feel utterly useless, you can make a significant difference to someone else.

(3) Open your windows. Now that the weather has (mostly) warmed up, a decent amount of sunlight can seriously change your perspective. When struggling with your mental health, it’s important to remember that you control your environment. A clean living space, some upbeat music, a few open windows and a scented candle can be an even more effective pick-me-up than a good drink.

(4) Try a podcast instead of television. Free apps like Stitcher can connect you to hundreds of interesting shows — and, even better, you can walk while listening. It’s entertainment and exercise, rolled into one.

(5) Go see the tulips. We can’t celebrate Tulip Time this year, but there’s a big perk to being locals. There are literally thousands of beautiful tulips spread throughout the Holland area, and no tourists to avoid. The time is ripe for a tulip photo album.

When all else fails, I sit on my porch with a good book and try to remind myself of the tattoo I got on my 18th birthday: “And in time, this too shall pass.”

— Cassandra Lybrink is a Holland resident. Contact her at cassandranlybrink@gmail.com.

Source link

You might also like

The Battle Within: DJ Carton’s journey through mental health (pt 3) – WHBF – OurQuadCities.com

Kids’ mental health is still pediatricians’ greatest concern, one year into pandemic – The Philadelphia Inquirer

Woman killed herself after mental health worsened in lockdown, inquest hears | UK news

Previous Post

Decatur-area fitness centers use shutdown for upgrades, cleaning | Local

Next Post

Dental practices led record health care job losses in April but are bouncing back

Healthy

Healthy

Related Posts

The Battle Within: DJ Carton’s journey through mental health (pt 3) – WHBF – OurQuadCities.com
Mental Health

The Battle Within: DJ Carton’s journey through mental health (pt 3) – WHBF – OurQuadCities.com

by Healthy
February 26, 2021
Kids’ mental health is still pediatricians’ greatest concern, one year into pandemic – The Philadelphia Inquirer
Mental Health

Kids’ mental health is still pediatricians’ greatest concern, one year into pandemic – The Philadelphia Inquirer

by Healthy
February 25, 2021
Mental Health

Woman killed herself after mental health worsened in lockdown, inquest hears | UK news

by Healthy
February 25, 2021
Academic Minute: Inequality and Health Care
Mental Health

More Bad News for Student Mental Health

by Healthy
February 25, 2021
Mental Health on the Mind – The University News
Mental Health

Mental Health on the Mind – The University News

by Healthy
February 25, 2021
Next Post
Dental practices led record health care job losses in April but are bouncing back

Dental practices led record health care job losses in April but are bouncing back

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recommended

United Way helping mental health programs

United Way helping mental health programs

April 30, 2020
The Long & Winding Road: On the road for mental health | Columnists

Summit Health and Fitness emphasizes benefits to staying active |

January 24, 2021

Categories

  • Diet
  • Fitness
  • Health
  • Healthcare
  • Medicine
  • Mental Health
  • Nutrition
  • Weight Loss

Don't miss it

State lawmakers grill New York health commissioner on COVID response
Health

State lawmakers grill New York health commissioner on COVID response

February 26, 2021
Local community is thankful for bringing sports medicine to its area
Medicine

Local community is thankful for bringing sports medicine to its area

February 26, 2021
Poll from the California Health Care Foundation provides views on COVID-19’s affects on providers on the frontline – State of Reform
Healthcare

Poll from the California Health Care Foundation provides views on COVID-19’s affects on providers on the frontline – State of Reform

February 26, 2021
The Battle Within: DJ Carton’s journey through mental health (pt 3) – WHBF – OurQuadCities.com
Mental Health

The Battle Within: DJ Carton’s journey through mental health (pt 3) – WHBF – OurQuadCities.com

February 26, 2021
Miramar’s Mayor to Host Annual Health & Fitness Timed 5K on April 3 : South Florida Caribbean News
Fitness

Miramar’s Mayor to Host Annual Health & Fitness Timed 5K on April 3 : South Florida Caribbean News

February 26, 2021
Push for plant-based diets possible as part of agricultural sustainability
Diet

Push for plant-based diets possible as part of agricultural sustainability

February 26, 2021
My blog

All the latest breaking news on Healthy Eating. Browse The Independent's complete collection of articles and commentary on Healthy Eating

Categories

  • Diet
  • Fitness
  • Health
  • Healthcare
  • Medicine
  • Mental Health
  • Nutrition
  • Weight Loss

Trending

Rebel Wilson shows off her 30kg weight loss in a figure-hugging dress

Indiana Regenerative Medicine Welcomes Annamarie Salyer to the Practice

Mental Health Help Easier to find… | KLBK | KAMC

Mental health survey hopes to identify gaps in the community | Western Colorado

Recent News

State lawmakers grill New York health commissioner on COVID response

State lawmakers grill New York health commissioner on COVID response

February 26, 2021
Local community is thankful for bringing sports medicine to its area

Local community is thankful for bringing sports medicine to its area

February 26, 2021

© 2020 eathealthyandlivehealthy.com

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Health
  • Medicine
  • Nutrition
  • Fitness
  • Diet
  • Weight Loss
  • More
    • Mental Health
    • Healthcare

© 2020 eathealthyandlivehealthy.com

//whugesto.net/afu.php?zoneid=3399210