Living with Your Existing Mental Health Condition During COVID-19

Mental health conditions aren’t going away just because coronavirus is preoccupying our lives, if anything the response is exacerbating illness that people were already dealing with before our new normal of social distancing and isolation began. 

It’s important to keep caring for yourself and managing your mental health amid the COVID-19 adjustments. But, it can be tricky. The isolation may be good for our collective health, but it can be difficult mentally and emotionally, especially for people who already have a mental health condition. 

Regardless, there are some ways to manage your mental health and maintain your well-being. 

Manage your medication

Getting your prescriptions may be easier and safer than having to physically go to a pharmacy . Check with your pharmacy to see if they can mail meds to your home. Also, it’s possible to get 90-day supplies of medication, rather than 30-day supplies. Contact your doctor to see if they can change your prescription — many insurers are letting people get medication refills sooner than normal, according to Mental Health America, which also has a list of resources for managing medication. 

See if your therapist can meet remotely

Some therapists, and doctors alike, are turning to telehealth. If you have a therapist, ask if they can offer a phone or video session. Mental Health America suggests trying out a Warmline, which is a peer-run phone line you can call if you simply need someone to talk to.  

Make a new routine 

“Keep the routines that make you feel good, and try to modify the ones that you can. For example, if you typically go to the gym or fitness class, you can exercise at home,” Mental Health America recommends. Finding a friend to hold you accountable and support you can help, too. 

Stay in touch with friends and loved ones

Video chats can help fill the void of social interaction that come with orders to work, study, and stay at home. FaceTime, Zoom,Google Hangouts, and Skype are good options that are free or inexpensive with a data plan. 

Remember: You’re not going through this alone

The scope of coronavirus means that most of us know someone who has or will get COVID-19, or we may get it ourselves. Isolating at home every day is an unfamiliar and difficult lifestyle for many of us. But we’re all connected by the experience of going through it together. The National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI, has information on support groups if you want to get in touch with others who are feeling the same things you are.