Life lately: Depression during COVID
It’s too easy to be swept along by depression and anxiety these days, and knowing myself from past experiences, I’m one of those people who would easily get swept by. We’re probably just now aware, but most of the people around us are already suffering from mild depression and anxiety because of the pandemic and the results of it. My suggestion on managing depression during COVID? Get and keep yourself busy.
In this article, I would like to discuss three sections of how am I doing these past few days and wrote it into more relatable and hopefully understandable post just in case someone is feeling almost like how I do.
Depression, anxiety, and everything in between during COVID
The scary virus we have now was discovered in 2019 and in a very short time became a pandemic. Know more about the Corona outbreak HERE. It’s so scary the world needed to take a break and quarantine its people. Aside from being very contagious, it also caused a lot of sad and depressing and stressful things among humans – the economy is going down, the unfortunate people becomes even more unfortunate, politics now boldly becoming personal war zone, and since people are mostly online, cyber bullying and other cyber crimes went up and guess what? People are being abused inside their own homes where we all think we should be safe in, and who knows what else are even worse than these stuff? Depression during COVID is not the only problem we face. Please also be reminded that other illnesses and diseases did not disappear.
Just to clarify, I’m not clinically diagnosed with depression. But I am very vocal about the issue because I’ve experienced the most stressful and saddest part of my life so far and it felt like I was going there, I was almost going insane. If it weren’t for my baby, I would let myself get drowned by that feeling. Because of my kid, I don’t want to wait for other people to confirm it before doing anything to prevent it.
In case you’re not aware, there are tests online that help you determine if your level of depression/anxiety during COVID is getting high. You can visit one of the sites HERE. But before you take the test, please put in mind that self-diagnosis also has dangers and please do not do or take anything before confirming it with your doctor.
What I do to keep myself from depression during COVID
1. Train yourself to not be scared
I know, “it’s easier said than done”, but someone has to say it. We need to be brave and strong and if it costs vitamin c or locking your family down at home, we must do it to survive. The increasing number of active cases are understandable because mass testing is ongoing, but the increasing number of deaths no matter how it weighs a lot lesser than the number of recovered patients still is alarming.
My friends were talking about our current situation and we both don’t know having this as the new normal is scarier or better. Although we need to do something to save our economy and our lives, we’re also afraid of catching the disease and passing it to out loved ones. Though people do know their priorities, it’s #realtalk that their choices affect their lives.
How to minimize the worries? Follow the health protocols and DO NOT go and stay outside home if not for a really important errand.
2. Avoid hearing or seeing depressing/sad news
DO NOT let your lolo and lola go outside to buy something from the market. Do not let your kids ride their bicycles around the subdivision like there’s no COVID19. We only let them go outside the gate for a few minutes wearing masks to get some sunlight and when it’s time to get inside, disinfectants are ready and they need to take a bath. We make sure they don’t get any direct contact with other people, but we have to be extra careful as they are the most vulnerable. Plus we need to stay clean even without COVI19, I mean duh?
One other important house rule is to avoid seeing bad news from the television. It’s just making us feel even more sad and while it raises awareness, there are times we need more positivities especially the gurangs and Mnemo. key rule: avoid things that you know would trigger depression especially during COVID.
3. Get busy
By getting busy I mean do your house chores and even rebuild or redecorate your home interiors AND do something else that are equally important – work and hobbies. Months ago, I was a single working mom. Now I am a single working stay-at-home mom and it’s worse. It’s super stressful trying to focus on writing reports while some little person is reaching your laptop requesting for YouTube Kids. It’s hard to say no, especially when you realize she’s just doing you a favor to compensate for lack of time you spent with her when you’re working from the office. So sometimes I need to say no, but sometimes, ah I need this report tomorrow but whatevs.
The work from home scheme
It’s my advantage that I work not too fast but fast enough while I maintain the quality of the job. It’s also an advantage I have a good internet provider (thanks, Converge!). My concern is I have a kid who expects me to chop toy food with her and make Bulalong Dinosaurs all day. Another issue is my VPN connection s*cks and I hate it.
The work from home scheme for a day or two is not new to us, but working from home everyday for months is totally new to me. When I cook something for lunch or when I take a bath or watch a Netflix series on the side of my laptop, people at home sometimes forget I am working and that people at work also need me. But that’s okay because #life and figuring out what and how to do your work is key.
Complete online courses
What I usually do is listen to it on the background while working. Good thing I’m already an expert at multi-tasking *ehem* so I am still able to pass the quizzes and assessments. So far, I’ve earned 10 certificates already and that’s why I call myself a “supermom”.
Looking for free online courses? I wrote my first round-up here >>
Read books
Okay, I admit, I haven’t read any novels yet since the ECQ in Manila. But I’d still recommend to at least try reading books while you’re at home. There are a lot of benefits for reading books and it’s not just making up your own imaginary boyfriend. Haha
4. Find a new hobby
Launching Mayo Colors
I’m super happy to share my newest page on FB Mayo Colors (@mayocolors on IG)! Here’s my first ever digital art with a face. LOL!
Though I’ve been a self-proclaimed artist since I was a kid, I’ve only played with few mediums and tools so far. I was too scared of trying out digital painting/digital art because of the comments I read to newbies online. I know criticisms are better be used as ways to improve, but sometimes it hurt, and people should be more aware of that.
By the way, this is Carla from the Netflix series Elite. Not a super fan, but I looooove her beautiful face. I’m now working on a weekly series inspired by Disney Princesses and modern OOTDs. Curious? Follow my pages!
Being a new #plantita or plant mom
My Mom has a green thumb, but I have never tried growing plant on my own. It’s on my bucket list, though, to build a small garden at home and make it look more nature-looking. So here I am trying to be a good mom to six small potted plants. Can’t wait to have a pretty house so I can put up a garden for more!
I got these pretty plants from Meryl, to help raise funds for her kidney transplant. You a #plantita, too? Get yours and help Meryl! Read more about this drive HERE. #PlantHopeForMeryl
5. Stay healthy
Exercise and be active
It’s in the plan but because I am too tired I still can’t get up early. I need to rest my body to be able to work again the whole day next day. But I’m working on it though.
If you have time to get up at 4 or 5 in the morning, then go walking or jogging. I like going out during those hours because 1) the creepy crowd isn’t there yet, and 2) it’s not too hot yet.
Get on a diet
Just recently, I re-started my IF diet and this time, I downloaded an app to help me monitor my fasting and eating time. The app recommended the starting routine based on your preference and previous practice, so I have 16 hours of fast and 8 hours of “free time”. I rarely have breakfast and dinner but I eat like twice a day every afternoon to regain my physical and mental energy back.
Now that I’m writing about it, it honestly sound even more sad and depressing to cut off some meals especially I’m a foodie. Looking at the brighter side, this also limits my unhealthy food intake so win-win.
Practice skin care
One of my bestfriends is now an official distributors of Ryx Skincerity – one of the most talked-about skin care essentials in the market. She also have tried the products personally before signing up as a distributor, and I’ve seen how much her skin got better. I’m on my 4th day as of writing and I love it so far.
Since we are in a lot of stress right now, it’s just right to take better care of our health and skin. If you are looking for some skin care routine or products, bear in mind the following reminders:
- Different people have different skin types. Learn more about skin types HERE.
- Aside from skin types, our skin also have different levels of sensitivity. Do not expect that if a product is working perfectly on your friend, it would 100% work the same way on you.
- Always check if the products you will be using is well-studied and FDA approved.
I cannot stress more how important it is to keep your mind and body healthy especially now that we’re all going through some challenges that are not expected. Depression during COVID19 is totally common and speaking up about it is okay. What we’re not sure of is some of the peoples take on depression during the pandemic becoming normal. Anyway, I won’t mind saying this over and over again – we have different ways to cope and one way to help each other is inspire and respect our life decisions. How about you? How is your life going? Talk to me in the comments section or let’s have a private conversation via email (connect@themhayonnaise.com).
3 Comments
Eromonsele Emmanuel
I’ve practised reading more and writing during this pandemic because no jokes, if it’s not Covid-19 it’s a case of racism, violence or something else. I can’t help but ignore the news sometimes. Thanks for mentioning that.
themhayonnaise
We’re all experiencing it in different ways, and coping from it in different ways as well. I sometimes avoid social media, too! Ugghh some posts and comments are just too toxic for me so I just ignore them.
Aaliziyah
In this pandemic season, it is really easier to dwell on the sadness and anxiety brought by it. Thank you so much for sharing this. It made me realize how important it is to distract one’s self from the ugliness of the pandemic.