BOX ELDER COUNTY - By London Hillis – May 26, 2020
Quarantine can have an adverse effect on mental health, whether it be mentally or financially during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.
While many have been able to spend time at home with families to strengthen those relationships, others have been under extreme emotional stress along with financial stress from closing of local businesses and non-essential workers either being furloughed or laid off.
“I think it affects everyone differently, introverts don't have to go out, but extroverts go a little haywire when they can't get out,” said Paul Newman, MA, LMFT, from North Point Marriage and Family Therapy in Tremonton.
Newman suggests a few different ways to help and to inform people about quarantine and how it affects mental health.
The emotional stress of quarantine can be incredibly overwhelming as Newman explained.
“We weren't emotionally prepared to go into a state like this,” he added.
Newman suggested a couple of different ways to help keep a positive mindset while still staying aware of the situation.
“I am a big proponent of meditation and I think that meditation is very underused in our society,” Newman said.
Consistent meditation may be hard to find time for but has many benefits.
Another method of coping during quarantine is gratitude journals.
Gratitude journal helps because being happy about something even half important can keep you positive. A gratitude journal is a way of recognizing what we are grateful for is proven to help keep a positive mindset.
“Learn to be a critical thinker because you need to be able to make your own personal viewpoint and to not let the media affect it more than it should,” Newman said.
Misinformation online that can scare or lead to more stress in people, which is why Newman suggests researching issues of personal interest first.
Finding a hobby or staying physically active is also another way to stay in a good headspace. Keeping busy by doing things you enjoy can also kill all the extra time on hand.
Exercise can also help keep a positive mindset and boost self-esteem.
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