What To Do To Help Yourself Heal From The Mental Effects Of This Pandemic

It seems like every day we wake up is another day that can add a new dose of anxiety and stress to our lives these days—no sign of the COVID-19 pandemic ending anytime soon, job security issues, schooling plans up in the air, businesses experiencing bankruptcy, the list goes on. Truly, we are living through unprecedented times, and we can surely say no one has got it all together just yet. 

While these realities bombard us day in and day out, we always say that there is good to be found in any situation, and channeling our energy towards the good will bring forth more good. We believe that no matter how you feel like the situation drowns you, there is always a glimmer of hope. Here, we wish to share with you how you can let yourself heal from the destructive effects of the pandemic on your mental health, as we talk to happiness doctor Lia Bernardo. 

Metro.Style: What is your expert advice on how people can heal from such a traumatic situation like this? Some have simply been locked up at home in quarantine, a lot of people have lost their loved ones with no proper means to grieve, some have lost their jobs, etc. 

Lia Bernardo:  There is really no one way of dealing.  My advice is to find a way that works for you through Move, Learn, Grow, Create.  This is the method I teach to Raise your Frequency.  This way regardless of what is happening in the externals of your life, your wellbeing is still your priority, because at the end of the day we need to create our own solutions to our problems, depending on the resources available to us.

I am in no way diminishing the grief, anxiety and trauma that I believe every human being has experienced during this time. But, what I would like to focus on is the fact that we are now in a position to really experience what true self-care is all about. Only then can you actually find creative solutions to whatever it is that is facing you right now.  

MS:  What are practical ways on how to bounce back from this stressful experience we all collectively share?

LB: Move, Learn, Grow, Create each day to raise your frequency. It is the only way to bounce back from a level of emotional wellbeing and when you are feeling well inside you will function at your best.

MS: How can people who don't practice spirituality grow better in this area moving forward? 

LB: You don't have to be spiritual to practice stillness. It is in the slowing down and the staying still and going inwards... It is a must for wellbeing, there is absolutely no other way. You need to like who you are first and foremost and learn how to take care of yourself because you owe it to yourself and those you love.

MS: What are the things we should be wary of when we come out of lockdown/quarantine?

LB: Your thoughts and perspective is the first thing you ought to make sure supports you rather than bring you down. It is being able to reframe your thoughts so that you encourage yourself rather than bring yourself down. And do more things that raise your frequency. So rather than say 'I've been through so much hardship', for instance say, 'I made it through this hardship physically and emotionally, that's how amazing I am.'  Pat yourself in the back, you made it through a couple of very rough months.

Check out Lia Bernardo's free wellbeing classes on Zoom every Friday at 4 PM via @atmapremawellbeinggroup on Instagram.