Arcadia England

Friday 9th October is World Mental Health Day, and for many this year it seems more important than ever. This year, perhaps more than ever before, so many of us will have struggled with loneliness, fear, uncertainty and anxiety; we will have faced disruption and disappointment, and potentially ill-health or bereavement. For those of us who already suffer from mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, this year has only exacerbated some of those problems and tested us to the limit. Those who have not suffered from such issues in the past may find themselves struggling for the first time. More than ever before, we need to make a positive effort to look after our own mental health and look out for those around us. 

Students coming to the UK from overseas over the last few weeks have faced quarantine, and others are finding themselves in self-isolation due to being diagnosed or close to someone diagnosed with coronavirus. For everyone else, the possibility of a local or national lockdown seems to be constantly hanging over us. In such a busy world, where we are so active, so interconnected and used to regularly travelling long distances, the thought of being unable to leave the few square metres in which you live can be a terrifying thought. Different strategies work for different people - each one of us is unique. Here are a few tips for looking after your mental health while quarantining.

Change your perspective

I used to love long-haul flights, because I would think to myself: when, in my normal life, do I get to just sit for several hours and watch movies and have someone come and feed me at regular intervals, with no guilt that I really should be doing something else? Quarantine is a bit like that. You are limited in what you can do, so it’s the perfect time to read the books you always wanted to read, binge-watch that TV show you never got around to (we watched the whole of Silicon Valley in lockdown earlier this year) or watch all those guilty pleasure movies with that actor you have a secret crush on that you’ve never admitted to. You might never have the time again where you can do all this without FOMO (or FISBODOS - Fear I Should Be Out Doing Something). Our students studying in London this semester can check our our Quarantine module on Canvas for ideas of things to watch, read or listen to in quarantine.

Establish a routine

In the first few weeks of lockdown, without a commute to work to get up early for, it was tempting to stay in bed for as long as possible. Then, working from home without a train to catch or a gym class to get to after work, it was easy to just think “I’ll just do one more thing…” and work into the evening. It can help to try to establish a routine, as artificial as that may feel if you’re staring at the same 4 walls 24 hours a day. A British fitness coach, Joe Wicks, started doing live workouts on YouTube at 9am each day, so I made that my focus - I had to be up and in my sports gear for 9 each morning. I also joined a virtual choir, which rehearsed at 7 each evening. This helped give some semblance of structure to my day. If you have online classes and other activities such as social events you can use these to create a routine for yourself.

Get a support network

You probably have a support network, even if you haven’t thought about it in those terms. Our support network - people we can turn to for support, comfort and advice - might consist of parents or siblings, friends, teachers, or maybe professionals such as a therapist. Who is in your support network, and how can they help you if things start to feel tough? Don’t forget that the Arcadia staff are here for you 24/7 if you’re struggling.

Adapt your usual coping mechanisms

We all have different ways to cope when we are feeling low. While some of these may seem impossible in a confined space in a different time zone, others can be adapted to your new situation. For example, I find that running and swimming are hugely beneficial to my mental health, but obviously I can’t do these in a tiny flat in north London! But there are all sorts of wonderful - and free - workouts online, so why not try something new? Yogo, Pilates, High Intensity Interval Training, Aerobics and even Ballet are great ways to stay fit. Where other coping mechanisms are concerned, remember that quarantine is not the time to change things that don’t need to change! If you take regular meds, for example for anxiety, now is not the time to see what life would be like without them! If you usually see a therapist, we can arrange for you to see someone via video appointment from the UK. Your usual coping mechanisms are likely to be more important than ever during this strange time.

Use technology...but not too much!

We’re probably all too aware by now of Zoom Fatigue. On the one hand, technology is a lifesaver during these strange times, and I personally don’t know how I would have got through this year without social media and video calls. At the same time, though, staring at a screen all day can be exhausting, and looking at social media more than usual can have its downsides, especially if we see our non-quarantined friends apparently having much more fun than we are! So, while you can be grateful for the technology that allows us to keep working, studying and communicating, don’t forget to talk to the real people with whom you’re quarantining, checking how they are, and doing things together, whether it’s cooking, playing board games or simply chatting, face to face, in real life (remember when we all used to do that?!)

What you’re feeling is normal, because this situation is anything but normal!

As someone with a history of depression, if I feel low I tend to immediately worry that I’m heading into a depressive episode, but that isn’t necessarily the case. Any big change in your normal routine is going to impact your mental health - sometimes this is a positive impact, like going on holiday and being able to sleep in, and being stimulated by new sights and experiences, but sometimes this is a negative impact, like when you find yourself somewhere unfamiliar and miss the comforts of home. 

I know this year has been tough, and that many of you have missed out on so much already. If you’re struggling, please do reach out to someone - you certainly won’t be alone! We hope that some aspects of quarantine may end up being surprisingly enjoyable, but understand that many aspects may be difficult. Manage your expectations; be kind to yourself; look to the future, and seek support - we are all in this together.

Read about our student Lauren Kelly’s experience as she came out of quarantine.

You can find more tips here and multiple resources here.