Thread by @Ali_Madeeh

Thread on #mentalhealth during #COVID__19
Wl be adding to this periodically.

For more mental health updates/tips/ideas please follow my colleagues and dear friends @awaisaftab and @AhmadRehanKhan

The current world situation due to #COVID__19 is unprecedented in human history

The first thing to understand is that it is perfectly normal to feel stressed, overwhelmed, weepy, angry etc from time to time (for those with no pre-COVID mental health issues-for those who struggled with them pre-COVID, you may be feeling worse despite effective treatment)

Start with the basics to improve your #mentalhealth
1. Eat healthy. Avoid the urge to overeat,eat at the wrong times or eat only 'comfort foods'
2. Exercise regularly.If you have not been doing that, start. Walk, run, cycle, just move. You can also garden, wash cars, clean house

basically anything to stay active and moving. This will also keep your mind occupied
3. STOP WATCHING COVID-19 related news. Preferably turn off all screens or limit screen time to watching songs, comedies, sports etc
4. Stop sharing and watching videos and links on social media

5. If you want COVID related news, get it from @WHO @CDCgov or other reliable website. Avoid Pakistani media like, well, the plague😁

6. Avoiding screens means that you now have to interact (without a screen) with other humans starting with your family and those you live with. It feels awkward but make an effort to put your phone/tablet etc in another room and actually sit with your family. Turn off the TV

and talk to them. Listen first and listen more. Talk less. Everyone will want to talk about COVID. See if you can find another topic to discuss. Rediscover board games (they are hard to find). Ludo, Monoply, Cards etc. They are fun and help you connect with others

Adults will need to teach teenagers and younger children who have never played.
7. Learn something new if you are sitting at home. I'm dabbling in baking and may soon feel brave enough to jump into cooking.
8. Reach out and help other people in whatever way you can. e.g.

Donate money or even better donate your time. There are lots of good people and organizations doing lots of worthwhile things to help others who are suffering from the economic crunch. It is inadvisable at this time to leave the home but there are ways to help online.

What you do will depend on what skill(s) you have but if you can, donate your time to organizations that are helping those in need. It will fill up your time (and reduce 'worry time'), you will feel good doing it and it will help others.

9. Realize that everyone around you is also feeling stressed, anxious and angry (for a variety of reasons). Getting angry or upset at them esp those close to you like family and friends will not help and will likely make you feel worse

10. Please take elementary disease prevention precautions (and tell others to do the same). Wear a mask, wash your hands, keep your distance. Refuse to deal with people who do not follow these directions. If you are in a store or business, refuse to do business with them if they

are not following these directions.
11. Stay in touch with your family doctor. They should be your first point of contact if anyone in the family is sick. If you don't have a family doctor, reach out to other family members and find one preferably a 'GP' (not a specialist)

12. Realize that the world has gone through pandemics before and eventually they all subside. The world will continue to turn after this is over. It is normal to feel scared for yourself or a family member but 'he who worries before it is necessary worries more than is necessary'

13. If you are religiously inclined, by all means say your namaz, read the Quran etc but please avoid the scientifically unsound advice being handed out by a few maulvis (and follow standard precautions in your religious practices).

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