Making Mental Health A Priority
“Every act of destruction is also an act of creation”.
The global pandemic has thrust humanity into a period of upheaval. Our way of life is being questioned and many of the old and typical ways we did things now seem unnecessary and a waste of resources. We have begun to question the necessity to sit in traffic on our way to an office after dropping off children at creches and schools. A better work life balance has never been more achievable. The destruction has presented us with the potential for a society that is slower paced and a healthier way of life. We are at a point where we can consider new innovative ways to manage society. However, it does not take away the heightened uncertainty caused by the pandemic. The major social and psychological impact caused by unemployment and separation among many other challenges are psychological risk factors for depression and anxiety. The constant stream of negative media across all platforms has been overwhelming. However, the disruption to our reality has presented us with an opportunity to explore how we coped during the pandemic and how we can use these tools in other areas of our lives.
I recently graduated from Bess in Trinity College and sadly have missed out on many of the final experiences you look forward to when four years of hard work comes to an end. Looking for somewhere new to live and searching for employment in a jobs market that is at a standstill are daunting tasks. For me, in the past, overwhelming feelings often came from the constant stream of thoughts internally that I could not escape. When the pandemic came, the overwhelming feelings now came from an external source that seemed all encompassing. I often used the nice things in life to distract me from worries. But, now the outside world under lockdown appeared quite frightening and uncertain. Distractions were hard to come by meaning fears had to be faced head on. One thing that gave hope and courage was a commitment to abide by the rules for the sake of the health and well being of others. When you look outside yourself you can escape the train of thoughts travelling around your mind. Putting others before oneself creates an empowering sense of duty and it plants seeds of empathy that grow into understanding.
Self care during this time has been equally important. The greatest tool I’ve learned during this time has been Stillness. Suffering comes from resistance, so I have tried to sit with thoughts, challenge them and let the emotions come and go. Challenging thoughts rationally and reframing worries has helped me cope better during this crisis. It is something I recommend whenever you are faced with a difficult situation. Rather than seek out distractions, find a quiet comfortable place and meditate on what is bothering you. Of course it will be difficult at first to get centred, but stick with it and something will click. Better yet, journaling allows you to pour out your inner dialogue onto a page and often times what appeared to be a major issue is small in comparison to the bigger picture. These tools of empowerment can act as a life vest in the choppy sea that is our minds.
For many of us, having our daily routine disrupted has propelled us into the unknown and comfort zones seems a distant memory. Why not embrace this? Living in your comfort zone could have been what has held you back in the first place from all the things you’ve always wanted to achieve. Most mornings at the end of my lovely warm shower, I have turned the temperature to freezing and stood for as long as I can manage. In that moment I must control my breathing and manage the uncomfortable sensation that my body and mind insist are too much to handle. The feeling afterwards is amazing and it usually consists of a few loud whoop whoops. Mentally, I feel like a new person: sharp, focused, energised and calm. If you are fortunate to live by the sea, I highly recommend a short dip. Cold exposure from cold showers to sea swimming has shown to have a vast amount of health benefits as it stimulates the vagus nerve. Low Vagal tone index is associated with anxiety, depression and loneliness. Deep breathing is another method that activates the vagus nerve and calms the fight or flight response. If cold water is too challenging at first, try deep breathing exercises daily and I guarantee you will notice positive results.
Living in isolation has made us value many things we took for granted. The slower pace of living has made us realise how important our relationships really are. Not only our relationship with others but with ourselves. Oftentimes, if a close friend is struggling with an issue we are far more sympathetic with the advice we share, compared to the advice we give ourselves. As we gradually leave isolation let’s leave behind the rat race and the obsession with material gain. Let’s look around for the people alienated by the old system and bring them with us into a more united and caring society. Every major event, no matter how destructive has brought about positive change. Let’s leave nobody behind and make mental health a priority in the new normal. This destructive pandemic has given us an opportunity to collectively change the way we live our lives, for the betterment of everyone. Let’s make it count.
