The COVID-19 pandemic is having a severe impact on my mental health. I am unable to go to school and finish off my senior year the way I had dreamed of for the last four years. I am unable to leave the house unless I am working or need “essential goods”. Staying at home has been extremely overwhelming to the point where I’ve needed to leave home for the sake of my own mental health.
I’ve learned to put my mental health first. I realized that being stuck at home all day with people that were not supportive or understanding of my situation whatsoever was detrimental to my mental health. I was so angry and anxious all the time, and when I realized when the root of the problem was, I was able to pinpoint it and fix it.
While I can’t go out with my friends, we are definitely staying in contact over Face Time and text. It is very important to me to check in with my friends to make sure that they are okay and doing well during this time as well. I also really enjoy keeping in contact with my school whether that be my principal, teachers, administrators, school counselors, etc. It makes me very happy when I see an email or a message from someone I really look up to at my school because it is a constant reminder that they have not forgotten about me.
Here are 3 tips I want to share with you as we navigate through these difficult times: Hope you find them helpful.
- Try something new: pick up a new hobby, and even though it may seem stupid or ridiculous, just try it. It gets really boring sometimes and this might just be the thing to help you out during your times of need.
- Never lose touch with the outside world: no matter how hard it gets, make sure that you remain in contact with your friends, family, loved ones, etc. Also, don’t be afraid to call old friends!
- Continue to plan your future: never ever stop planning and looking forward to things. I know in a time of uncertainty it is hard to look forward to certain things, but all I ask is that you try. Even if it’s just a friend’s birthday and you can’t throw a huge celebration for them, use your creativity to come up with something unique for them.
Written by Hoda AbouEich, ASHA Storyteller & High School Senior.