By now, you may be feeling the effects of the COVID-19 quarantine and as such, improving mental health during quarantine is more crucial than ever. If you are currently participating in a mental health treatment program, you can continue your treatment using telehealth services. In addition to treatment, there are several things you can do to stay mentally fit during the pandemic. To learn more about your treatment options, contact Women’s Recovery today at 833.754.0554.
1. Access Telehealth Services
The increase in mental health issues and addiction during the pandemic caused an influx of clients in treatment centers. Facilities that are not already full may still have limited capacity due to social distancing guidelines. If you need a women’s mental health treatment center in Colorado, you may want to access telehealth services. These are online treatment programs provided by local rehab centers.
Some of the services available include:
- Individual therapy
- Family therapy
- Group therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
Instead of feeling isolated from treatment, you can go online and schedule a session with your therapist. You can also find an online support group to meet others who are also in recovery.
2. Practice Meditation
One of the things you may have learned in your substance abuse treatment program was practicing meditation. When you feel stressed out, lonely, or depressed, meditation is one of the best ways of improving mental health during the quarantine. Meditation decreases stress, controls anxiety, and promotes an overall feeling of emotional health and wellness.
Meditation also strengthens your mindfulness skills, bringing you more awareness about the activity in your mind. Some forms of meditation can help you better understand yourself and teach you how to recognize patterns in your thoughts and behaviors.
If you are wondering how to start meditating, listen to the below recording created by our own Dr. Bader to find out how to begin:
3. Start a New Hobby
While quarantine can cause anxiety, it can also create an opportunity to learn something new. Now might be a good time to start a new hobby or learn a new skill. Picking up a hobby can be part of your daily routine and keep you engaged in something that stimulates your brain. Hobbies are also great for helping you stay in a state of mindfulness.
Hobbies are enjoyable activities that you do in your spare time. They are a form of creative recreation. Please do not get too wrapped up in your hobby or allow it to become another form of stress. Some popular hobbies include gardening, knitting, playing a musical instrument, and even cooking. If you are working on your recovery, journaling is also a great way of improving mental health with the help of an anxiety treatment program during the quarantine.
4. Stay Fit and Healthy
If you are spending more time indoors, you need to prioritize your health. Exercise and fitness are crucial elements in your substance abuse treatment program. Daily activity will get your blood flowing, boost your mood, and keep you motivated to stay clean. Try to get into a running or walking routine, bodyweight workout, or even a fitness challenge. If you cannot get out, then designate a room in your house to exercise and download a fitness app on your device.
How much, when, and what you eat are factors in improving mental health during the quarantine. Make sure you work your meals into your daily routine without skipping. Eat fruits and vegetables, and drink plenty of water. The healthier you eat, the more mentally stable you will be. If you want to limit your trips to the grocery, buy shelf-stable foods, double up on your groceries, and store as much in the freezer as possible.
5. Establish a Routine
An addiction or mental health issue can derail nearly every part of your life, throwing you out of balance. When things are chaotic, you may become unstable mentally. This instability can lead to relapse. One of the best ways to foster mental health is to establish and maintain a routine. Try to sit down a map out a daily schedule that includes family, work, chores, meals, sleep, and some alone time.
Your routine needs to be rigid enough to keep you on track but flexible enough to keep you from getting stressed out. Try to include everything in your routine that you do every week. In addition, make sure you add rest and fun time to your day because otherwise, you may implode after only a few days.
Learn More About the Mental Health Treatment Program at Women’s Recovery
If you are interested in improving mental health during quarantine and need help with addiction or a mental disorder, contact Women’s Recovery at 833.754.0554. We offer comprehensive care through our mental health treatment program. Call us today to get started with your treatment plan.