The world has frozen in time. Everything we would normally do in our usual day-to-day lives has been put on hold. It's quite amazing to think that we’re spending more time with each other, not due to our choice but because of a global lockdown. Nonetheless, we must use this opportunity to become closer to our neighbors. We should do everything we can to better understand what makes us human, what things we can do to make ourselves live better lives. The first step is to start talking about mental health. This subject gets swept under the rug all the time but now, we have the time and the space to reflect on ourselves. Let’s use this time wisely!
How are you feeling?
We’re asking this question more than ever before. How are you feeling? The lockdown is not just a physical trapping but a mental battle as well. We are now understanding how important it is to go outside. We value fresh air more. We value human contact and interaction. If you’d like to be asked more, how you are feeling, it's about time you started asking others first. Call up your friends and family, speak with them about their feelings, and what is making them sad or frustrated. The mere act of someone caring enough to ask can do wonders for oneself.
Express yourself and share
Social media has become the main way we speak with each other. We can share videos, pictures, photographs, and selfies of ourselves. But, have you ever shared a drawing you made? Have you shared a poem you wrote? How about a painting? These things might seem trivial but they have been ways for expressing our deepest and darkest thoughts in ways perhaps your words cannot. Sit down with your family and have a drawing session. Draw or paint the images that exist in your mind. Talk about why you see these characters, shapes, colors, and scenes. You can even hold live streams with your friends and family, asking them to do the same. Share your pieces online and allow the world to see and hopefully, follow your example.
Retain your understanding
Most people struggle to understand why they have certain mental health conditions. Unless you’re a professional in psychology or work in mental health therapy, you’re only going to get so far. If you regularly saw a mental health expert or perhaps have been dying to speak with someone of this nature, LifeStance Telehealth is an online service you can use to do so. They have experts that will perform video calls with you. You can see each other which although isn’t comparable to being in front of someone face-to-face, this is an excellent option in the current situation. It's also great for people who don’t have time to meet mental health experts in-person during normal daily life.
Let’s use the opportunity lockdown has given us, to talk more about our mental health. Speak honestly with your friends and family about the things that make you anxious or confused. Draw and paint, and share it with the world!
