How To Cope With Depression After You Get Covid

Let's face it: These past few years have been challenging.

We survived a global pandemic. Say that again.

We survived a global pandemic!

The past few years have brought on sickness, change, isolation, financial pressures, and uncertainty.

No wonder there's been an increase in stress, anxiety, and depression.

Even if you never tested positive for COVID-19, it still affected you, your life, and your normal routine. If you tested positive for COVID, there's a chance it had a more significant effect on your overall health and wellness, on top of what you were already experiencing when you were trying to prevent getting it.

Here's how to cope with depression after you get COVID.

Prioritize Your Sleep

Depression can make it hard for you to fall asleep and stay asleep at night. For some individuals, it can cause your whole routine to get thrown out of whack. This means that you may have a hard time falling asleep at night which means your body will want to sleep during the day.

One of the best things you can do is to prioritize your sleep. Sleep is essential for proper rest and recovery. It's what gives you enough energy to make it through your days. If you're having a hard time with your sleep schedule, try to go to bed and get up at the same time each day. Yes, this includes weekends. Over time, your body will start to recognize and adapt to your sleep schedule.

Move Your Body

Exercise has been proven to reduce stress and anxiety, as well as give your body natural "feel good" emotions or endorphins. You don't have to become a bodybuilder or a marathoner to experience these benefits either. All you have to do is aim to get your body moving for at least 3o minutes each day however you choose to do so! Go for a walk outside. Hop on your bike and cycle around your neighborhood. You can even hit up your gym or attend a class at your local studio.

Fuel Your Body Properly

Depression can also have a huge impact on your diet and nutrition. For some, it may cause them to eat less than their normal meals. For others, it may cause them to binge eat as a way to cope. Try to be mindful of your eating habits. Your body isn't a trash can, so don't treat it like one. Try to focus on eating and fueling yourself with an adequate amount of protein, carbohydrates, and fats each day. Limit consuming a lot of sugar, drinking alcohol, or using substances.

Unplug

Depression can feel like you're stuck in a dark hole that you can't seem to crawl out of. Don't make things worse by spiraling down a rabbit hole of scrolling through or watching negative news. Try to unplug during the day. If you can't unplug completely, try to set timeframes on when you can read or watch the news. Seeing or hearing constant news about COVID when you're already not feeling great about it won't make things any better for you. There's a way that you can stay up to date without affecting your mental health in a negative way. Pay attention to how you're feeling when you're reading or watching the news. Be proactive instead of reactive to protect yourself.

Next Steps

If you're struggling with depression after COVID, you're not alone. Sure, there are things you do to help you cope, but depression isn't something that just goes away on its own.

Reaching out for help is one of the strongest things you can do. A therapist can work with you to help you find ways to cope and take care of yourself during challenging times.

Reach out to me today if you're interested in depression treatment.