Tips for maintaining your mental health amid stressful times
It’s been a stressful year and a half for all of us coping with the COVID-19 pandemic, and mental health remains more important than ever.
This National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month – and every day - it’s important to prioritize your mental health and remember that no one is alone. There are also resources available if you are experiencing mental health concerns.
Morton Hospital’s Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic specializes in treating adults with a variety of mental health conditions, including:
- Depression
- Bipolar Illness
- Anxiety and Personality Disorders
- PTSD, Adult ADHD and OCD
- Psychotic Illnesses
We’ve also recently expanded our team with the addition of Brienne Patricio, LICSW, an outpatient therapist who joins our team of psychiatry specialists including Dr. Leonardo Batista, Dr. Anna Maria Moldovan and Dr. Doriana Morar.
According to Dr. Batista, who serves as Morton Hospital’s Chief of Psychiatry, social support, relaxation and healthy habits will make us better equipped to stay healthy – both physically and mentally.
Social support: Remember “social distancing” does not mean “social isolation”. Connect with other people, especially people you care about and enjoy being with. Use of technology such as video chatting, phone calls and texts can help decrease a sense of isolation.
Relaxation: Mind and body are connected and therefore we need to work on relaxing both by tuning down the exacerbated fight or flight response, which can make us feel anxious and stressed. There is a free app called PTSD coach by the VA, which provides several models of relaxation. Another easy strategy is to relax by focusing on our breaths. Do this a few times throughout the day. You will feel the benefit almost immediately.
Healthy habits: Eat healthy. Almost 65 percent of us change our eating habits when stressed. Practice strict sleep hygiene (limit caffeine intake, do not smoke, go to bed without TV or cellphone, keep the room silent and dark as much as possible). Exercise (stairs, walking). Also, dedicate time to enjoy yourself. Have fun and rest. While it is important to know what is going on in the world, it is equally or even more important to take breaks from watching coverage of the pandemic, as hearing about this repeatedly over prolonged periods of time can be anxiety-provoking and counter-productive.
If you feel that you are having difficulty controlling or managing your anxiety, it’s important that you reach out to a mental health provider.
To learn more about Morton Hospital’s Outpatient Psychiatry program or to request an appointment with one of our specialists, call 508-828-7880.