During this hard time where everyone is forced to stay in their homes and keep social distance, anxiety and depression can easily kick into people’s lives. Living in a country, where depression and anxiety are considered taboo topics, these can be proven life-threatening, especially with this pandemic going on. People of every age can fall victim to depression whether it’s a tiny kid or an old person. And if not treated on time, it can have lethal consequences.

The following can be the side effects of depression and anxiety during this very stressful time:

• Fear of dying or losing the loved one due to disease
• Feeling of paranoia
• Difficulty in concentrating
• Mental health worsening
• Chronic diseases may worsen
• Intake of narcotics may increase as well

That’s why we should soothe ourselves so we don’t bargain our inner peace with depression and anxiety. Also, that way of dealing with the current situation will become easier. Here are a few ways to keep yourself distracted so you don’t feel alone:

1. Get yourself a pet:

Who doesn’t love an adorable little kitten or a puppy staring at them with those cute eyes? Pets are a great stress reliever. They are happy and can help throw off the feeling of loneliness. If you have a pet already, spend as much time with it as you can. Even if you don’t like a cat or a dog, birds or fishes are great options too. Even a snake is a suitable option (if you’re not afraid of it).

• Exercise:

Working out is a perfect way to relieve anxiety as exercising regularly or 3-4 times a week keeps the mind healthy. According to research, a person who exercises regularly is less likely to get stressed as compared to a person who doesn’t. Regular exercise reduces Endorphins and improves self-image. It also helps in gaining confidence.

• Spend time with family:

Family is an important part of everybody’s lives. Due to our busy schedule, we have stopped spending time with our families. Right now is the perfect time as all of us are staying home, to spend quality time with our family. Staying around people also helps in relieving stress and keep us away from depressions.

• Call your family or friends:

If you live far away from your family or friends, call them. Ask them how they’re doing, learn about their routines, and share your worries with them. Just talk about whatever keeps you anxiety-free.

• Learn something new:

Learning is an excellent way to keep your mind distracted from the current situation. There are plenty of hobbies and things you can learn while staying at home. Such as learning a new language, how to cook, how to draw etc.

• Netflix and chill:

Netflix is a site where there are plenty of shows and movies that keep your mind occupied. It releases new shows and movies every other day so there are a lot of options to choose from and from all over the world. It is also a good option to keep yourself busy and depression at bay. Not just Netflix, plenty of other sites and channels offer some good shows and movies to binge-watch during this time such as HBO, HUM TV, gogoanime (if you love anime), etc.

Even though depression and anxiety can be caused by anything whether it’s due to losing a job, or due to breakup of a long relationship, this time is tougher for people who can get depressed easily.

These tips are easy ways to deal with depression in this tough time.

These tips will not only work well to relieve anxiety, but also will help in gaining information and knowledge.