Tips for Staying Positive During the Coronavirus Outbreak

Our world is facing a period of unprecedented challenges during a global pandemic that has fundamentally changed the fabric of our daily lives. Amid this uniquely stressful environment, it can be hard for even the most optimistic people to stay upbeat. At a time when we need each other most, shelter-in-place guidelines are keeping most of us homebound, leaving many people susceptible to depression and anxiety. How can you protect your mental health during COVID-19? Here are our favorite tips.

Stay Connected With Loved Ones

Self-quarantine keeps you safe, but it might also have made you start to feel isolated. Think about faraway friends and family members you haven’t talked to in some time, and reach out to say hello. You can call them or organize a virtual hangout using software such as Skype or Houseparty. Or, get creative and send a surprise note or care package through the mail. You’ll be letting them know you’re thinking about them while supporting the U.S. Postal Service, which is struggling to avoid becoming a victim of the coronavirus crisis.

Practice Self-Care Strategies

Your mental health should be a priority because when you’re mentally resilient, you allow your immune system to do its job better. Make sure you are getting enough sleep and eating a balanced diet. Set aside time in each day for exercise – even something as simple as a 15-minute walk around the block is enough to increase your heart rate and give you a feel-good boost of endorphins. Put on upbeat music and have a dance party in your living room. Get lost in a work of escapist fiction.

Shift Your Mindset

In these frightening times, it’s vital to limit negativity in your life as much as possible. We have all lost something due to coronavirus, from a sense of security and control to the ability to participate in public events. Instead of dwelling on the things you can’t do, embrace this as an opportunity for personal growth. Enroll in online classes that will teach you a new skill. If you’re quarantined with family members, use this time to get closer to them with bonding activities such as board games or cooking together.

Take Breaks From the News

Obviously, it’s essential to stay abreast of information about coronavirus, especially pertaining to the number of cases in your community. However, it’s not healthy to consume a steady diet of headlines from the moment you wake up to the time you fall asleep. If you start feeling overwhelmed, it’s OK to step away for a day or two. Instead, watch something that makes you laugh and takes your mind off your worries.

Don’t Struggle in Silence

If you’re starting to recognize the symptoms of depression or anxiety creeping into your life, seek help. Remember, you’re never alone, even if you’re homebound. Look for an online therapist or support group. Call a supportive friend and talk through your feelings.

Remaining Mentally Strong Amid Coronavirus Concerns

It’s natural that everyone is feeling more worried than usual about the global spread of coronavirus. However, don’t fall into unhealthy coping habits or let anxiety or depression take over your life. If you are feeling vulnerable to developing a dual diagnosis of addiction and a co-occurring mental health disorder during this unprecedented time, we are here to help. Hope Academy provides outstanding substance abuse treatment to young adults who are struggling with these problems. Contact us today to learn more about our services.

Severe Anxiety Among Teens at All-Time High

Anxiety disorder is of growing concern on college campuses – surpassing depression as the most common reason students seek counseling services, according to The New York Times – and the numbers are increasingly climbing when it comes to teens. 

According to recent data from the American College Health Association’s 2016 survey, 62 percent of undergraduate students reported “overwhelming anxiety.” This was up from 50 percent in 2011. And 41 percent of students said they felt overwhelmed; a significant increase from 29 percent in 2010.

Occasional anxiety – before taking a test or making an important decision, for example – is a normal part of life. However, when anxiety worsens and interferes with school and job performance, social activities or friends and family, it could signal an anxiety disorder, which requires professional help.

Spotting the Signs of Anxiety Disorder
Sadly, 80 percent of kids with a diagnosable anxiety disorder are not getting treatment, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). Even if you don’t personally experience anxiety, your roommate or friend may need help. Here are a few symptoms to watch out for:

• Excessive worry
• Sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless, unsatisfying sleep)
• Irrational fears
• Muscle tension
• Chronic indigestion
• Panic attacks
• Restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge
• Being easily fatigued
• Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank
• Irritability

About Sobriety College at Hope Academy

If you are or someone you love is a college student struggling with a mental illness and substance use disorder, Hope Academy may be the ideal rehab program for you. Our peer-based rehab program provides the safety and support you need to succeed in school and at sobriety. We even provide transportation to and from the center, school, and sober activities. To learn more about our college home and sobriety program, call today: 866-930-4673.

Can an App Ease Your Anxiety?

Mobile technology may seem like the last resort when it comes to caring for your mental health, but new research shows that a smartphone app may in fact help relieve anxiety and depression.

Researchers tested a suite of 14 free mini-apps, collectively known as IntelliCare, designed by Northwestern clinicians and based on current psychology techniques used by therapists. After eight weeks, the 96 participants (who all had elevated symptoms of anxiety or depression) decreased their symptoms by 50 percent. This level of improvement is comparable to in-person therapy or taking antidepressant medication, say researchers.

The apps, currently available on GooglePlay, offers easy-to-follow exercises to help users sleep better, build self-confidence, unwind and de-stress, tame self-criticism and worry, discover greater meaning in life and more. They include: 

• Daily Feats, which allows users to add worthwhile and rewarding activities to their day
• Purple Chill, which includes audio recordings and guided exercises
• Slumber Time
• My Mantra

"We designed these apps so they fit easily into people's lives and could be used as simply as apps to find a restaurant or directions," lead author David Mohr, PhD, director of the Center for Behavioral Intervention Technologies at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said in a press release. "Using digital tools for mental health is emerging as an important part of our future."

Currently, there are over 165,000 health apps on the market, many of them targeting mental health, according to Huffington Post. 

Dual Diagnosis Treatment for Young Adults
At Hope Academy, we conduct a series of tests upon admission to determine if mental illness is complicating substance abuse. Once we gain a comprehensive understanding of each patient’s individual health challenges, our addiction treatment team develops a customized program. To learn more, call 866-930-4673.