As the pandemic continues across the United States, taking note of your mental health and how the quarantine has impacted your stress levels is important. 

Many cities and states around the country have been greatly impacted by the Coronavirus. For instance, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey recently put out an order to shut down gyms, bars, and reduce the capacity in restaurants to stop the spread. 

The Pandemic and Stress 

While things like a quarantine and social distancing are necessary to curb the infection rates of COVID-19, they can contribute to feelings of isolation —increasing stress. The unfavorable combination has been shown to lead to: 

• Increased anxiety 
• Fear of job loss and essential services 
• Fear of becoming ill 
• Changes in sleep or eating patterns 
• Difficulty concentrating 

• Increased mental illness symptoms 
• Increased use of tobacco, alcohol, and other substances 

These issues are dangerous and can lead to major health consequences. This is why finding healthy ways to cope is an essential part of quarantine. 

Healthy Ways to Cope with Stress  

One thing you can do preemptively to reduce stress is to learn and understand what to do, where to go, and how to get treatment for COVID-19. Contacting a health professional to better understand the situation and learning more about the actual virus can improve outlook and stress levels surrounding the pandemic. 

Along with learning more about the problem, following these tips can help you manage your mental health in a more effective way. 

Double Down on Healthy Habits 

Things like eating healthy, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly can do a lot to help improve physical health. These activities are shown to reduce stress. Exercise, specifically, is a great way to blow off steam, improve self-confidence, and help with mental health in general.
 

Take Breaks from the Media 

Watching the news and seeing updates all the time can be exhausting and even a bit disheartening. If you ever begin feeling this way, it can be best to just take a break. 

Create a Relaxation Routine 

Taking a break from the TV and reading a book, going to the pool, or simply taking a walk around your neighborhood can be great for your stress levels and overall mental health. As mentioned before, the pandemic can be an increasingly worrisome time. Because of this, it is important to make sure you’re taking a break from everything and taking time for yourself. 

Talk with Others 

Just because there is a quarantine and social distancing in effect does not mean you have to completely isolate yourself from others. You can still connect with others through social media, online, over the phone and more.  

Avoid Alcohol 

The use of alcohol and other substances can be a common coping mechanism for people going through stressful times. The continued use of alcohol can lead to abuse and potentially addiction. Routine alcohol abuse may even cause mental health disorderslike anxiety or depression to begin or become worse. 

The pandemic is still in full force here in the United States which means a lot of people here are still quarantined and practicing social distancing. During this time please ensure you are doing everything in your power to keep your mental health in a good place. Managing stress, staying relaxed, exercising, avoiding too much alcohol, and more can go a long way toward improving and maintaining your health.