Emotional Support
Finding myself uprooted suddenly and facing the reality of a life-threatening illness took a toll on my mental health. It can feel like mental health is always an uphill battle, which makes seeking help overwhelming. I wanted this page to focus on ways to care for mental and emotional health in a time of crisis, because it's always easier for me to have a list that I can turn to when I feel overwhelmed. The sudden extreme changes that have come with COVID-19 have exacerbated mental health difficulties. From increased anxiety to dysregulation to situations that create new boundaries, the novel coronavirus has created a need to focus on mental health and self care. Therapists, self-care pages, and poets have been sharing advice on Instagram on how to maintain mental health in the middle of a crisis. Seeing the way online communities have come together to provide ways for people to support themselves has given me hope and served as a reminder that nothing is more important than my health.