An Update on the Current State of Mental Health
The negative mental and physical health effects from unrelenting, every day stress have been compounded with the weight of the world’s current situation. (source) Shifts in policies, new procedures, and fear-mongering media have made coping with this “new abnormal” challenging for all of society. A rapid shut down of employment, followed by the resumption of economic activity under new restrictions, has heightened the tension of living with uncertainty.
One of our major sources of coping, social connection, has also been altered. Rather than being a a source of comfort during these changing times, some individuals now consider loved ones as “carrier threats.” This impediment of the basic human need for touch and closeness has impacted the psyche and further exacerbated negative emotions. (source, source, source, source, source, source, source)
Globally, there is some source of solace that everyone is being impacted and the world is in this together. Yet, many are disproportionately affected as related to discrimination, stigma, location, and access to resources. Everyone’s ability to adapt and access their resiliency is being tried and the trauma is becoming more evident as the weeks progress.
Recently, CDC data confirmed the rise in numbers of those suffering with mental health issues since March 2020. (source, source) A recent representative survey of adults who were over 18 years old across the United States showed a considerable increase of anxiety and depressive disorders during April-June of 2020, compared to the same period in 2019. Overall, about 41% of participants reported at least one adverse mental or behavioral health issue. These included anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, trauma-and-stressor related disorder, and increased substance use. Suicide ideation increased and was significantly higher among those aged 18-25 years and in minority racial/ethnic groups. The authors urged for community-level intervention and prevention efforts to address these issues. (source)
Resources to Support Physical and Emotional Health
It is very important for all of us to make our emotional well-being a priority right now. Preventative medicine is also related to our brain health!
I have written several posts on supporting our physical and mental health during these trying times. I urge you to explore them and hope you find some helpful tools to assist you.
Below is a list of articles for supporting mental and brain health:
- A Naturopathic Doctor’s Top Five Essential Oils for Self-Care, Mental Health, & Wellness
- Why We Need to Be More Mindful of Mental Health
- 10 Natural Ways to Relieve Stress and Calm the Mind-Body During Trying Times
- Re-emerging into a Simmering Society, How Medicine Can Heed the Wake-Up Call
- Three Essential Oils for a More Cheerful and Hopeful Summer
- A Naturopathic Doctor’s Four Favorite Summer Essential Oil Blends to Promote Grounding, Courage, Peace, and Overall Mood
- Compassion Over Grit to Move Through Struggles. How about both?
- A Naturopathic Doctor’s Three Favorite Essential Oils Blends to Support Brain Health and Promote Courage, Vision, and Spirituality
- Video Recap: Essential Oils for Brain and Mental Health & Soothing Stress
- A Naturopathic Doctor’s Approach to Thyroid Health Using Essential Oils: Video Recap & Additional Resources (Tips on managing stress, blood sugar, and more. When we are stressed, havoc can occur on hormones which can compound emotional and physical symptoms.)
A “Fun” Way to Cope
In my latest blog, I offer another type of coping skill: fun, play, and music.
Exclusive Content on Essential Oils for Natural Healing
Specializing in Digestive, Women’s, and Emotional Health
This material is for information purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prescribe for any illness. You should check with your doctor regarding implementing any new strategies into your wellness regime. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. (Affiliation link.)
According to experts and the World Health Organization (WHO), there is no approved standard of care treatment, cure, or preventative for COVID-19. Supportive measures and containment are in full force as a result. Please see the CDC website and your state’s website for more information and updates. They also state when to contact your physician related to symptoms and travel history, exposures. Please read my more detailed article on this subject here.
Disclaimer: This information is applicable ONLY for therapeutic quality essential oils. This information DOES NOT apply to essential oils that have not been tested for purity and standardized constituents. There is no quality control in the United States, and oils labeled as “100% pure” need only to contain 5% of the actual oil. The rest of the bottle can be filled with fillers and sometimes toxic ingredients that can irritate the skin. The studies are not based solely on a specific brand of an essential oil, unless stated. Please read the full study for more information.
Thanks Canva and Pixabay.
