What social distancing does to your mental health (and what to do about it)

These are anxious times given the recent coronavirus outbreak. And if that wasn't stressful enough, now we have to add social distancing on top of it. If you're anything like me, you've taken your responsibility to flatten the curve pretty seriously and are staying far away from....pretty much everyone. But that isolation can be pretty hard on your mental health. So here's a guide on how to combat cabin fever so you can stay happy and healthy through this pandemic quarantine.

__Apps for Stress Management__
Headspace (meditation, mindfulness, sleep aid, healthy living)
Calm (meditation, breathing exercises, sleep aid
PTSD Coach (coping strategies, symptom tracking, PTSD info)
Sanvello (meditation, self-care, peer support, goals, journaling)
Moodpath (mood tracking, psychological assessments, coping skills)
Daylio (mood tracking)
SuperBetter (gamified improvement, self-care, goal-based improvement)

__How To Spend Your Time__

__Crisis Text Line__
Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor

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[Phrenotopia]

I'm more interested in how to stay sane when having to be among strangers again.

[SICness]

I definitely feel the impact of cabin fever and the urge to leave my house, so I turn those into the motivation to go for a run and let me tell you, my running schedule has never been so consistent as it is now :D I also take the quarantine as an opportunity to practice self care and self love: I meditate and do yoga, educate myself on mental health, write in my journal, try to relax and caretake my anxiety, but also do things that are fun, like painting or playing video games

[JJJettplane]

I'm an introvert most of the time, and whats helped me is making handwritten greeting cards that go in lunches which are delivered to seniors. Its very rewarding and keeps me fairly busy.

[rachelcharnock]

You've helped me realise I do need to get out of the house. I suffer with depression and locking myself in the house is one of the worst things I do. I love going on hikes so have made a plan for tomorrow to get up and go and enjoy some fresh air. Currently making some food to pack and take with me

[Micetticat]

You guys have become so good at editing!

[RK--nikj]

Thank you for this! As someone with depression, it's been hard to stop myself from falling back into bad habits, but I think I'm managing pretty well for now. I've started to learn Russian with Duolingo, mostly for the added challenge of having to learn a new alphabet (we'll see how long this lasts because god is it confusing). I've been trying to exercise daily too. My family is fortunate to have some space to make a garden, so we've ordered some seeds and supplies and I'm very excited to start planting in a month or so --- I think out of all the activities I've been doing, this will be the most fulfilling, as the fruits of my labor will actually be tangible! If you have the space, I highly encourage everyone to start some form of garden. Even just growing some plants inside will be great for your mental health.

[JasonBechtelTeaches]

Thanks for this video. As one who lives alone, I was definitely struggling for a while there. I was angry and frustrated and trying to fight and negotiate to maintain the vestiges of the social life I had before. I finally felt a depressive episode coming on earlier this week, and that forced me to change strategy. Since then I've had a couple of great therapy sessions to help reframe my thinking, and I think I've moved into a phase of acceptance. I've upped my yoga to daily, started taking more walks and reading fiction and laying out on a blanket in the park (breaking the law, gasp!). I'm cooking myself good food, taking advantage of more of the opportunities for remote socialization, and I just ordered myself some self-care items: a happy light, an air purifier, and a starter set for getting into calligraphy (which I've been meaning to do for a long time). Last but not least, I decided to take a week off from work to let this mental shift take hold. I feel so much better already. Now I just need to be diligent and keep up these new coping strategies!

[mariaconstanzanieto]

Thank you for this video! After watching it I was motivated to reach out to my sister and do zumba exercise today :)

[SouOfAWolf]

What keeps me from feeling socially isolated is the fact I have three online dnd games - Wednesdays I DM a game, while my Fridays and Saturdays of every week are spent playing with my friends. It's really helped me not feel so awful and honestly has really fought back my depression a lot. There's still anxiety given the current situation, but being able to spend hours at a time with people I love is something I'm grateful I get as often as I do now... It also helps me keep track of the days too which is nice since I've been having trouble with that due to the stay-at-home orders XD

[rlquinn]

Open the windows.
It's still a little chilly outside where I am, but having the breeze through the house/apartment keeps it from becoming a prison.

[TheTwick]

Welcome to my world. Clinical since 1975. Thanks for doing this, doc. Every little bit helps. I draw and paint, though it’s been harder to concentrate, lately. Silver lining - I don’t have to go to grocery store any more! Agoraphobic - definitely. Home delivery - my new love.

[maggielinked]

When I watched this video for the first time I didn't knew I'd come back again. This whole situation sucks. Thank you for the advices.

[skatrees]

Me, having a great time now that everyone now understands how I feel whenever I have to talk to strangers, happy as can be cause no one wants to have human interaction!

[BrainsApplied]

What works best for me is just keeping my mind occupied: working out, doing some reading, coding, making some movies, etc.
It distracts me and keeps my brain stimulated.

[tiffanypierson]

I picked up an old crocheting project that I haven't worked on in 2 years.

[susiechapple]

You are the breath of fresh air that was needed. Thank you for the video.

[maryama.]

I find this time perfect for learning! Learn new things! How to take care of your body! how to do a handstand, maybe even try new painting techniques! Learn more about your self, talk to older family members (this would make them extremely happy) ask them about things you never knew before! Revive an old language you have been taught, or even start learning a new one! Read about things that interest you! (I personally love reading about fitness, psychology and surgery) FEED your BRAIN while staying safe

[cedoniapeterson]

When I felt like the whole world was spinning out of control, I decided to take on a project: to sort through every item in my room, and every memory box I have in storage (I'm a college student, so I don't have a house full of stuff), and organize it all. When I'm done I'll only have things in my room that I actively use/enjoy, and the items I love but don't use will be in storage. And those I don't love and don't use will be in boxes ready to go to Goodwill.


I'm almost done, and while there have been some days where the mess on my floor made me feel even more overwhelmed than ever, I'm glad I've done this. It's been good to be able, whenever I was stressed or feeling overwhelmed, to put on some music or a tv show and make some progress on my room. I can really see the improvement (and the mountain of stuff I'm getting rid of!), and at the end of this I'll have a bedroom that actually feels livable and clean because I won't see stuff falling out from under my bed or have to dig through random stuff to find the things I want. I'm so close - nothing left to empty out, I just have to finish the stuff on my floor! - and I am so excited to see the finished product.

[alexmayer]

My family has a weekly game night playing the game Psych! It’s a free app and basically it gives you a prompt and you have to create a fake answer. My siblings live two hours away so we use Zoom to chat and talk while playing!

[valerincorcino]

I feel weird because I’m the only person among my friends and family who hasn’t had a panic attack. The only thing that’s off in my life is my sleeping schedule 😒😫