Tag: mental hygiene

Safeguarding Mental Health in a Time of Crisis

I would like to be checked in on while I’m sheltering in place because of the CO-VID19 coronavirus outbreak. To have a person dial on the telephone to check in on me to see how I’m doing. This isn’t often possible for those of us who have flown the coop of the “mental health system.”

In this time of crisis though I’m at least able to talk to a therapist on the telephone which counts more in keeping me going.

Five days before businesses shut down in New York City I had the good fortune to be able to go to Best Buy in person and schedule the delivery of a new computer.

My old computer had crashed. I lost a number of files that couldn’t be retrieved. Luckily in January I had bought an external hard drive for $70 to transfer my folders and documents to.

I lead up with this introduction because it’s worth it when you can afford it to have a computer at home.

My mental health has improved because I’ve started typing up and editing and revising a work of fiction I want to publish.

Every day I sit at the computer working on this novel.

Engaging in the creative process whether it is by writing, sketching or painting, cooking a meal, or decorating your apartment can be a great way to safeguard your mental health.

This was how I healed from an illness: by using the creative process to express myself.

Always I recommend doing what gives you joy to inoculate from pain and hardship.

I’ve begun writing this new novel. I have 7 works of fiction I would like to publish in the coming years.

Writing in a journal–it can be dashing off your thoughts in a spiral-bound notebook–is another great tactic for riding out this hard time.

In the coming blog entry I’ll talk more about using other coping skills in a time of crisis.

Buona Salute a Tutti

This is what Italians are telling everyone:

Buona Salute a Tutti–Good Health to All.

We are living through an exceptional time in the history of human civilization.

I recommend exercising, listening to the radio, reading a book, making art, writing in a journal, calling friends and family on the telephone, and watching or reading news from a trusted source.

It can be hell when you’re forced to isolate indoors in your apartment. Practicing what I call mental hygiene could help a person survive this challenge.

I’ve been ordering things online: a book to read; ink and paper for my computer; a sweater reduced to a ridiculously low cost.

Luckily in June I had set up a home gym. This was auspicious as on Monday the mayor of New York City shut down gyms. Along with bars, clubs, cafes and restaurants, museums, theaters, and arenas.

In the next blog entry I will talk about setting up a home gym.

Yes–I bought a lot of my equipment like a kettle bell and resistance band from Amazon.com.