Kaitlyn Hart
Life Editor
If you’re like me, you’re probably pretty sick of hearing the term ‘new normal’ by now. All of the commercials remind you that ‘they’re here for you’ and ‘we’ll get through this together’. It’s a nice gesture, but it doesn’t mean much coming from a multi-million dollar corporation that is simultaneously trying to sell you hundred-dollar shoes.
Most of the people on the planet right now haven’t had to live through a pandemic, so we’re all trying to figure out this weird new world in which we have to stay away from our loved ones, and learn to live with ourselves and only ourselves for an extended period of time.
It can be hard to cope with the weird new “normalities” that have suddenly sprung up all around us, and it’s okay if you’re feeling overwhelmed. Wearing a mask all day, everywhere you go, is weird and we shouldn’t have to act like it’s not. It is so important to keep yourself and everyone around you safe, but at the same time, you’re allowed to acknowledge that this is an insane time to be living through.
It’s okay to feel anxious. It’s okay to feel worried.
According to the Census Bureau, “The pandemic, according to the data, affects people ages 18 to 29 more, with 42 percent reporting anxiety and 36 percent depression. The second most-affected age group was people 30 to 39, with 34 percent reporting anxiety and 28 percent depression.”
It’s important to remember that there are healthy ways to help cope with the stress and anxiety of the coronavirus pandemic, that you can practice while you’re in your dorm, in class, or walking around campus.
Stop looking at your phone
When you take care of your physical self, your mental health will improve. Limit the amount of time you spend on social media obsessing over COVID-19 statistics. Take time to stay informed, but don’t fall down a rabbit hole of anxiety and fear. All we can do right now is wear a mask, wash our hands and social distance to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.
Get enough sleep
This might seem like an obvious one, but I cannot stress to you enough, how important it is to get 8 hours of sleep every night, especially during a time as stressful as this. Anxiety and depression can make it hard to fall asleep, so try using some healthy sleep aids like meditation or drinking tea before bed to calm yourself down and get some much-needed rest.
Focus on the good
Even during an absolutely wild time like this, there is still so much good happening in the world. For example, because of quarantines in effect, people are driving their cars less, so pollution worldwide is dropping. Animal Shelters are reporting a boost in foster care applications. Disneyland is donating all of its leftover food after being closed, to local food banks. Even during scary times, people still find a way to be good, and it’s important for your own health to seek out the positive.
Stay informed
If it helps you to stay up to date on how the coronavirus is continuing to impact the world and your local community, stay informed! Idaho State University has great resources for keeping yourself up to date on the latest statistics and for keeping yourself healthy. Visit isu.edu/roaringback to learn more about how Idaho State is handling the coronavirus pandemic.
I cannot stress enough that this is a very scary time, but if we all do our part, we can keep ourselves and everyone around us healthy, eventually saying adios to the nasty coronavirus.
For more information on mental health or for immediate help in a crisis please contact the following:
Disaster Distress Hotline: 1-800-985-5990 (Press 2 for Spanish), or text TalkWithUs for English of Hablanos for Spanish to 66746.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for English, 1-888-628-9454 for Spanish.
SAMHSA’s National Healthline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
