Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 9) – Canada-based mental health advocate Mark Henick stressed the importance of dealing with anxiety amid the extraordinary circumstances brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In an interview with CNN Philippines’ Rico Hizon, Henick said people are not prepared for the mental health effects brought by the pandemic.
“They have to change their entire lives and haven’t had contact with people that they love and care about for a long time now. The loneliness is setting and the isolation is being internalized. People are having difficult time in dealing with it,” Henick said.
Being irritable and the feeling of isolation are some of the signs that one has an anxiety or stress disorder, Henick explained.
To overcome the anxiety brought by the movement restrictions due to the pandemic, Henick laid out his four-step R.A.I.N. tips that might be useful for everyone:
1. Recognize what’s happening.
“Few people are able to say, “I’m experiencing stress right now. I’m experiencing anxiety or depression or whatever it is.” If you name it, then you can do something about it.”
2. Allow it to happen.
“Don’t necessarily try to change it. Don’t cling into it.”
3. Investigate it.
“It means asking yourself. What are your triggers? How do you know you’re not doing well? More importantly, how do you know when you’re well? What do you need to put into place?”
4. Natural awareness of your surroundings
“Remind yourself that this will pass. We don’t know when, but we know that this will pass.”
These four tips will help one dealing with mental health problems find possible coping strategies for their condition.
“Oftentimes, the stress and anxiety that we feel is from our futile attempts to control a situation that is not under the control. Learning how to be comfortable with the discomfort is a key part in not experiencing anxiety because we don’t know when this is going to stop,” said Henick.
The mental health strategist also advised parents to check first themselves if they’re having anxiety/stress issues before doing it with their children.
Henick said parents must determine if they have symptoms, especially they are expecting a big wave of persons with mental health issues amid the relaxing lockdown restrictions due to the pandemic.
If one is feeling anxiety disorders and it starts to affect life decisions, Henick said this can be the right time to consult to a psychologist to know the existence of a mental health condition.
