THE South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) have provided these useful tips to help people with mental health issues deal with isolation during the national lockdown.
– Maintain a daily routine as much as possible – get up, get dressed, create a to-do list, etc.
– Avoid constantly consuming news, filter what you watching, reading or listening to. Avoid alarmist fake news and focus on reliable news sources and experts. For example watch the news at different intervals 8am, 1pm and 9pm.
– Acknowledge the situation is frustrating and out of your control. Allow yourself specific time to sit with those feelings. Create a list of things to do that will keep you active, make your list public (stick it on a fridge) and get your friends and family involved.
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– If you take medicine every month, speak to your medical scheme and pharmacist to get scripts filled in advance or arrange for home delivery.
– If you are really struggling to cope with the situation, don’t be afraid to speak up. Call SADAG, talk to your therapist, create a WhatApp or Facebook support group. Stay connected with people via technology – do more video calls, phone friends to catch up, etc.
– Mute key words which might be triggering on Twitter, unfollow or mute accounts, mute WhatsApp groups and hide Facebook posts and feeds if you find them too overwhelming.
– If you feeling overwhelmed, call SADAG on 0800 456 789 or visit www.sadag.org for self-help tips to manage Panic and Anxiety during this stressful time.
Notice: Coronavirus reporting at Caxton Local Media aims to combat fake news
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