The pandemic has taken a toll on everyone’s mental health. With a new variant, Omicron, recently discovered, many wonder when the global health crisis will end. COVID-19 has brought people anxiety and depression, and influencers David Murrietta Jr. and Alexandra Creteau attest to that. Experiencing the mental woes of the pandemic for themselves, the power couple has always tried their best to amplify their experiences and how they coped with depression and anxiety.
David and Alexandra published a video on their youtube channel tackling how people can stay stress-free and lessen their distress even amid the discovery of the new COVID variant. Still, many are asking them for tangible approaches and strategies they could take to handle the dark moments of depression and anxiety.
While health restrictions have been easing in some parts of the world, the new COVID variant has been sparking new waves of quarantines and lockdowns worldwide. It has once again prevented people from enjoying the freedom of going outdoors and meeting friends and family. The emergence of the new virus variant keeps people from social interactions, physical activities, and poses significant challenges in communication.
The YouTube stars were generous enough to share four useful tips on battling against depression and anxiety while battling in a world where COVID-19 Omicron poses a massive threat to everyone’s safety.
Tip #1: Counter anxiety and depression with positive thoughts.
“Thoughts play a very significant role. If you think about something negative, you may develop more such thoughts. It is like a vicious circle that keeps growing more trouble every time you do it. Negative thoughts trigger anxiety and depression in our brains. Naturally, our mental well-being is at risk. Such ideas may even create trouble in your relations. What you can do about it is that you should stop overthinking. Start by telling yourself to stop thinking about it. Refresh and get inspired by what is around you. If you are worried about something, don’t bother wasting your time worrying about it; instead, find a way out.” – Alexandra Creteau
Tip #2: Engage in positive physical activities to keep depression and anxiety at bay.
“To me, the workout is one of the essential lifestyle habits that I have developed over time. It helps me breathe freely, improves my confidence, and motivates me to focus on my targets. At the beginning of the pandemic, when a stay-at-home order was issued, I thought this might be like a vacation. But in two weeks, I realized that it completely reorganized my lifestyle, and my body was adapting to it. I was feeling worn out and stressed about what was happening around me. So, we decided that we would prepare a schedule, and we did. We started the day with breakfast together. I included time for a workout. I also added some meditation. Of course, we left room for entertainment–Netflix. But, honestly, this idea alone put us right back on track.” – David Murrietta
“Yeah, the idea really helped us. It made us think about our targets. We started the Dalex Vlogs Channel on Youtube.” – Alexandra Creteau
Tip #3: Control your feelings and emotions.
“Emotions can play an essential role in determining the state of your mental health. If you focus on negative thoughts way too much, you will end up conceiving a circle of negative ideas around you. So, it is vital to divert your focus on something else; an easy way is by keeping yourself busy doing something new. Read a book or learn a new skill. Create an online business or work as a freelancer. The possibilities are endless. Doing this will help you keep the positive mindset that a healthy person has.” – Alexandra Creteau
“Remember this: it is okay to have feelings about our situation. Quarantine anxiety and depression are common. But concentration on routine tasks can actually help you usher productivity. Always keep in mind that we all are in this together. And hopefully, it will end soon.” – David Murrietta
Tip #4: Reinforce positive behavioral awareness.
“Behavioral awareness means the way we react to the circumstances or environment. Most of the feelings that we have during quarantine are experiences that we never had before. The pandemic also creates different thoughts in our brains. Chances are, we will end up having anxiety and depression.” – David Murrietta
“It is important to note that, during the pandemic, some of our feeling components can be harmful while others can be beneficial. Everything is natural, so there is no need to worry.” – Alexandra Creteau
“So, what we have to do is to create a support system that focuses on the positive feeling. You can use zoom calls, text messages, DMs, or going live on Instagram with friends to stay happy and focused. You can also help people during these times to stay motivated. Helping others can make you happy and help you stay motivated–it is human psychology.
People can also fall victim to depression and anxiety because of their eating and sleeping behaviors. Diet can change your brain. So, it is significant to have positive behaviors, especially during the quarantine, to stay healthy. You can use exercise or workout to end the negative impressions. Likewise, meditation can also help you boost your mood. We believe that whatever works for you is the best way to solve the problems in the pandemic.” – David Murrietta
Follow Alexandra`s and David`s Youtube channel for more inspirational and motivational content: Dalex Vlogs