Tatler Philippines shares tips and tricks to stay sane through a crisis
As someone who comes from a family of worriers, I will be the first to tell you: this new pandemic nothing to be taken lightly. There’s constant worry, and now, as we live through the first leg of enhanced community quarantine, I can imagine that the struggle with anxiety could get worse. Dr. Ronald del Castillo, a doctor of psychology (PsyD) and a master of public health (MPH) from the University of the Philippines Manila, concurs.
He says: “For those of us who are already experiencing mental health problems before the outbreak, such as depression, bipolar or other mental disorders, the quarantine can aggravate an already tough situation. Now, muddle these with other circumstances, many of which are entrenched for us here in the country, such as poverty, unemployment or underemployment, isolation, poor transportation, limited health care access, or disingenuous politicians, then the psychological impact of the quarantine is all the more difficult.”
And true enough, stories have been surfacing online of people worried about having to be quarantined alone or with toxic family members or roommates. It’s difficult when the flow of our everyday lives is disrupted by something as serious as a pandemic. With this, Tatler Philippines has compiled a list of tips on how we can get through this quarantine together. It’s all about taking a step back, slowing things down, and getting used to a new routine that, like everything else, is temporary.
Read also: What You Should Know About The International COVID-19 Pandemic
We are healthier when we are socially connected and socially integrated, and so a community quarantine puts pressure on that