Mental Health in the Face of COVID-19’s Uncertainty

Amidst the corona outbreak, we must take care of our mental health and reach out for help when we need it.

In a sea of anxiety and helplessness, with dark clouds looming over the horizon bearing bad news, I find myself rowing towards an uncertain future. As I jot down “Quarantine entry 4” in my Moleskin journal to convince myself that I have been productive, I realize that the corona outbreak has undoubtedly affected my mental health.

With the cancellation of my high school graduation, it seemed extremely hard to feel motivated in my online classes. I found myself falling out of the straight-A student image that I had built. I beat myself up because I was convinced that my productivity determined my worth. This ideology worsened my mental health.

Social media convinced me that if I’m not currently learning a new language or starting a new book every week, I lacked discipline and not time. Accordingly, I tried utilizing my quarantined days to my benefit, but I couldn’t seem to get myself to download Duolingo or catch up on Harari’s Sapiens. I felt suffocated by my surroundings and needed constant distractions to feed my overthinking mind. No matter how much I indulged myself, I could not prevail.

Fortunately, the UAE has created a safe environment for people struggling with mental health issues. According to a recent article published by The National, experts in the UAE are helping people stay mentally and emotionally fit as they face social isolation. The National Programme for Happiness and Well-being (NPHW) has brought together 50 social psychology experts to help people who may be struggling with loneliness and other mental health problems. The online support program broadcasts via the NPHW social media channels (@HappyUAE); in which a series of short videos on how to build coping skills and mental resilience are being streamed; and virtual support groups offering mental health advice to vulnerable groups such as mothers, students, and elderly caregivers.

Failing to stifle my sensitivity, I gradually began to understand that my anxiety is normal. That it’s okay to be feeling sad, angry, or stressed. I acknowledge that I am in a better position than many other people, but that does not make my feelings invalid.  Allowing myself to feel and discuss my feelings with my friends has boosted my mental health. In addition, I started doing things for my own enjoyment, such as rewatching The Office for the third time or rereading my favorite book. Watching feel-good movies with my family brought me solace. Looking back at memories from my camera roll ironically filled me with hope and anticipation that better days are coming. As for online school, I was determined to take it one step at a time and not drain myself with my unrealistic expectations.

During this quarantine, I have shifted my perspective and began to cherish and hold on to the little things that matter. I’m accepting my vulnerabilities and exercising caution. While it’s great to make the most out of this situation, we shouldn’t be too hard on ourselves if we weren’t able to be productive these days, getting through one day at a time is enough.

I can’t help but imagine how wonderful sitting in a coffee shop will be after the quarantine. How marvelous going to the movies will be, every hug and every handshake will seem so much more meaningful. But, amidst the pandemic, we should take care of our mental health just as much as we take care of our physical health. We should all be a little kinder to ourselves and do things that matter to us. Although I am still rowing towards an uncertain future, I am filled with gratitude and hope.