04/23/2020
Focusing on the past and worrying about the future....two paths that can lead straight to the lands of depression and anxiety. In this stressful time of quarantine, with so many unknowns and unanswered questions, it is important to stay mindful in the PRESENT. No doubt, this is a challenging concept. The unknown is difficult for our minds to comprehend. Our brains love patterns and we have allowed our brains to rely on our patterns of life, whatever that may have looked like for you. We have accustomed ourselves to thrive on schedules and consistency and that is something that we are missing during this quarantine. Often, when we have too much time on our hands, our thoughts can begin to spiral into negativity and overthinking...leading us down a rabbit hole towards depression and anxiety. The current situation of COVID, quarantine and social distancing can exacerbate these feelings. My recommendations; when you catch yourself beginning to spiral on the edge of the rabbit hole, quickly turn your thoughts around. Using a distraction or doing a quick reality check is often very helpful. Common distracting coping mechanisms are listening to music, going outside, exercising, turning off the news, etc. Reality checks are using facts to falsify an irrational thought. Of course, the further down the hole you are the less helpful these tricks can be. Being prepared, knowing your coping skills, building additional coping skills and having insight into your thought patterns and tendencies so that YOU are proactive in your response to stressful situations is key. Take a breath, find a new perspective, reach out to friends and family. Find ways to stay connected while in quarantine. You got this!