Mental and Emotional Health during Extremely Stressful Times

Well this has been quite a year, hasn’t it? Today’s video, on how to cope mentally and emotionally, is the first in a 3-part series on coping during extremely stressful times.

Taking care of your mental and emotional health is critical to your survival! I hear consistently how much stress people are under these days. Many are collectively experiencing panic attacks, depression, anxiety, and an overall sense of foreboding.

With that in mind, here are some basic tips to help steer yourself towards healthy mental and emotional habits during times like this:

1. Focus on the fact that we are living in extremely stressful times, and that this can trigger issues from the past. This will help you not chastise yourself, and realize it’s normal to have fear and low-level (or extreme) depression. It’s crazy times! It’s OK to not be happy 24/7!

2. Learn something new to occupy your mind and give yourself something to look forward to; it could be a job skill, or learning how to do something you’ve always wanted to do.

3. Read good books and watch some of the good shows out there! This will shift your focus and distract yourself – and it’s OK to do so in times like these!

4. Talk it out! Get professional support if you need to. Talk to friends, unload, communicate. This releases tension and stress and helps you to bond and connect, which is therapeutic. The connection with other human beings is so vital to our mental and emotional wellbeing!

5. Sit with your emotions and feel them, and let yourself be OK with them. Don’t squash or repress them. Find ways to cope by occupying yourself, but also be understanding of yourself for feeling negative emotions during times like this.

6. Don’t force yourself to feel better if you don’t! If you can’t get out of bed, ask a friend to call or text you to check in on you. Let loved ones know you need their ongoing support.

7. If it’s really bad, and you’re experiencing an unbearable crush of uncomfortable emotions, get professional help! Get a prescription if you need to! There are times when we need extra support, and this would be one of them.

8. Meditate! It’s so therapeutic and healing. Guided meditations have a purpose; they can help you release anxiety, re-balance your chakras, heal wounds from the past, and more. Guided meditation can treat so many issues in a beautiful, calming, soothing way.

Are there special things that you are doing to cope mentally and emotionally during these trying times? If so, leave them in the comments below the video!

Thanks so much for reading and watching.