The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that there are four main groups that respond more strongly to the stress of a crisis. Of course, these groups include healthcare providers and people at a higher risk of COVID-19 being fatal. But these groups also include people with mental health conditions, children, and teens.
To keep mentally well, they’ve suggested the following:
- Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories
- Take care of your body. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly and get plenty of sleep
- Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy
- Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling
With each passing day, it seems as though it gets harder and harder to keep up hope. My mom updates me every day on who in my town has been diagnosed with the coronavirus and I know a lot of them personally.
I’m not doing amazing. But it’s not awful either. I’m keeping up with school work and trying to keep healthy physically. To keep healthy mentally, I’ve been talking with friends as much as possible. I’ve also been exploring the worlds of television and movies, finding new things to watch!
So far, I’ve watched (for the first time):
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
A cute, classic movie about a lovable alien making friends with a bunch of kids. Kinda like a lighthearted Stranger Things.
I Lost My Body (2019)
This movie made me feel so many feelings toward a severed hand. Not my favorite, but still a good watch. It’s on Netflix!
John Mulaney: New in Town (2012)
My entire sense of humor was shaped by this man. Also on Netflix!
Missing Link (2019)
This was such a cute movie!! From the lovely animation to the whimsical plot and characters, it was an absolute joy from beginning to end! Watched on Hulu!
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
It was amusing, but exactly my type of humor. On Netflix!
Onward (2020)
The first half of this movie was kind of disappointing, but this second half was pretty good! I’d be lying if I said I didn’t cry. It was recently just added to Disney+!
Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003)
I actually did see this once when I was younger, but I didn’t remember much about it. It fully lived up to be everything I remembered and better! Watched on Hulu!
TV shows I’ve binged in their entirety include American Vandal and Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness (both of which are Netflix series).
I wish I could write more about how to keep mentally healthy, but that’s really all I have. What’s mainly been keeping me going is the people around me. If you’re not already reaching out and talking to people, please do it. These past few weeks, I seem to be talking with a new/different person everyday. And it’s great! I like knowing that everyone from MSA and my old school is doing okay!
Please keep inside, keep happy, and keep safe! I love and miss you all!
– Addison
