Are you feeling irritable and short-tempered and getting into arguments at home? So many people are experiencing nervousness and restlessness? So many are finding it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep? You are not alone.
There are many things about which people are feeling stressed, anxious, and worried. For example, Coronavirus and social unrest are causing worry and fear. Also, many have lost jobs and their salaries. One of the most challenging things that many must deal with is that it isolates them at home—having to be indoors, whether alone or even with family, is extremely difficult. I’m hearing from many people who feel irritable, angry, sensitive, anxious, and depressed. What can people do to help themselves deal better with these problems?
Here or some suggestions for coping during this difficult time:
- While wearing masks, go out for walks, whether alone, with family, or with friends. In doing so, it is essential to remember to maintain Social distancing.
- Avoiding alcohol is extremely important. The reports are that many people are drinking as a way of self-medicating their problems. Rather than working as self-medication, drinking worsens the problems. It creates irritability and the tendency to get into arguments at home.
- Social interaction is essential. The frustration is that the Coronavirus makes it difficult to socialize. While wearing masks and maintaining social distance, it is not only possible to mix but necessary. In my psychotherapy practice, I encourage people to chat as much as possible while maintaining safety.
- Exercise is important. I know of one person who reported that they walk around their house as much as possible, including going upstairs and downstairs.
- Owning a dog can help. People who own dogs understand they must be what walked. Two crucial goals or achieved for those who have the dog. One important goal is getting out of the house and walking, allowing for some exercise. Besides, I always remind my clients that it’s impossible to be isolated when you own a dog. Neighbors, children, and anyone will greet and pet the dog. That is often the beginning of a friendly chat.
- One of the best medicines in the world, for most situations, is his humor. That is why I recommend watching funny television programs. These movies are comic and email humorous cartoons to family and friends. There is nothing like making jokes, laughing, smiling, having a sense of humor, or being suitable for the body and good for the soul.
- Listening to music is one of the most soothing it will axing things a person can do.
- I strongly recommend meditation. There is a beautiful app named CALM. Download this app to your cell phone. By either sitting or lying down and listening to some meditations is hugely relieving. The reflections are guided or purely musical and, depending on your choice, can last from 5 to 30 minutes.
- Under stress, many people breathe in a more shallow way without realizing it’s happening. Instead, it’s essential to take a full breath, count to five, let it out, and repeat two or three times. You can feel the body relax.
- Additional strategies include avoiding watching the news.
- Stretch to relax muscle tension—deep muscle relaxation techniques.
- Nature helps a great deal, such as walking in the local park.
- Avoid turning to alcohol to self-medicate. That only worsens all the symptoms mentioned, including domestic violence and child abuse.
People are experiencing feeling shut into their homes as frustrating. There is evidence that this has resulted in increased alcohol consumptions, domestic violence, and child abuse. It is essential to turn to psychotherapy for this and all the other reasons mentioned if the different strategies do not work.
It may seem silly, but it’s also important to smile. What is an old song, “smile and the entire world smiles with you.” It is accurate, and evidence points to the fact that smiling helps us feel better.