Everyone is dealing with quarantine differently. Some many be piling up their schedules to keep busy (like me) and some may be bored out of their minds (also me). Regardless, there are many people struggling, especially those who already suffer from anxiety and depression. “The strongest people are not those who show strength in front of us, but fight battles we know nothing about.” Don’t forget to keep in touch with friends even if you can’t socialize in person. Keep an eye out for warning signs of depression and help those that are struggling; and don’t forget to take care of your mental health too. Read some of my previous blogs for tips on how to keep busy during quarantine. Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay happy 🙂
Ask How Others Are Doing. It’s not always what you say, it’s how you say it. Some words can come across other than how you intended them to. Rather than saying “I understand what you’re feeling” say, “I can see how much this impacting you and I’m sorry you’re feeling like this. What can I do to help you right now?” Make sure your friends know that you are there for them unconditionally and that you truly care about them and their feelings. Try listening more than talking, and never invalidate someone’s feelings. Some better ways to reach out to someone struggling:
- “Do you want to talk about it? I’m here when you’re ready.”
- “What can I do to help?”
- “You are not alone. I’m sure it make feel like it right now, but I am here for you and want to help you.”
- “You are important to me.”
Advice Isn’t the Same as Asking for Help: Remember, asking for advice is not the same as asking for help. Telling someone to just do this, or just do that, can make depression seem like a simple fix. Which it is definitely not. If you’re going to provide advice, feel out the tone of the conversation first and ask them what they have done that has helped them, and what hasn’t helped them. More likely than not they will say “nothing worked”. This is a good signal to not start listing off every possible thing that would help. Although, this would be a good time to mention things that they enjoy during better times, such as working out or cooking, and suggest to try doing those things again. The main word here is to suggest, never tell someone you “should” do something. Leave the decision up to the person you are speaking with and just be there to listen and support.
Deliver a Care Package: Who doesn’t love a care package? A perfectly curated package that is personalized just for you with everything that you love. Sounds like a great idea to me! What kind of food does your friend love to eat? Maybe bake a batch of chocolate chip cookies or brownies. Or order some artsy crafts or adult coloring books and have them delivered to your friend’s address. Or maybe a hand written card with pictures of you and your friends. Deliver positivity in a box and be creative and have fun with it! Feel free to send me any other ideas you may come up with or send me pictures!
Instagram: @chelseaschordinee
alexa ferraro 