It doesn’t look like COVID-19 is going anywhere. There are already new strains that have been discovered in the UK, the US, and elsewhere. Vaccines may slow it down, but it’s likely that people will be locked down, told to wear masks, and socially distanced. Restaurants and other small businesses have had to either adapt and reinvent themselves, or shut down. Other businesses have had to change their models too, with millions of people switching to a work-from-home model. Others weren’t so lucky, and found themselves out of a job. Consequently, mental illness, depression, abuse, and suicide levels have escalated. Obviously when you have major symptoms, you should seek the advice of a doctor. But we all have ups and downs, and sometimes when they are not at clinical levels, we can pursue natural remedies first.
Monitor Your Sleep
The first thing you should do when you’re feeling off is to examine your habits. That begins with monitoring your sleep patterns. If you’re not getting a healthy amount of sleep each day, then that would be a good place to start. Sleep deprivation has numerous symptoms. One of the biggest impacts on your body—and mind, is that it can lead to mood changes. You can become emotional and quick-tempered in the short term. In the long term, you could experience anxiety or depression. These feelings can get worse over time if you do not resolve your sleep problems. Other effects that a lack of sleep can have on your body include memory issues, trouble thinking and concentrating, weakened immunity, a risk for diabetes, high blood pressure,and weight gain. You could also get into accidents and have trouble thinking and concentrating on ideas.
Make a habit of shutting off all of your electronics at least an hour before bedtime. Go to bed, and leave your mobile phone in another room. Make sure you’re not consuming caffeine late in the day, and consider all other factors that affect your sleep, including exercise.
Exercise and Fresh Air
Many people who have been stuck at home have stopped engaging in good habits like regular exercise. They’ve also stayed home without getting fresh air and sunlight. These things can have a tremendous impact on your mood. So, it’s time to get back to exercising regularly, even if it means going for a brisk walk a few days each week. If you’re feeling ambitious, then expandon those walks. Try jogging or get into a sport. Also, don’t neglect doing a bit of strength training. For example, pick up a set of fitness bands. You can take them with you when you exercise, and use them to tone your muscles while you also work on your cardiovascular health.
Also, make sure you get plenty of sunshine. This helps with Vitamin D production (which may affect your likelihood of catching COVID-19), and can help you to feel better, too.
Mood Boosting Foods
It’s time to start including mood boosting foods in your diet. Bananas are a powerful choice. They contain the amino acid, tryptophan. Among other things, it’s required for the production of the neurotransmitter, serotonin. Other mood boosting foods include berries, oats, nuts, seeds, and fatty fish. You can also include moderate amounts of coffee and other caffeine sources in your diet. Just be mindful of how much you consume, and try to stay away from stimulants like caffeine late in the day.
Red Thai Kratom Powder
If you haven’t heard about kratom powder, then it’s time you learned. First, you should note that kratom is not approved by the FDA. The kratom community includes many people who swear byits efficacy, but there aren’t a great many peer reviewed studies on the topic. WIth that out of theway, kratom users report different effects depending on the amount of powder consumed. Kratom comes from the leaves of the Mitragyna Speciosa tree, which grows in Southeast Asia. Red Thai Kratom Powder is one of the more popular strains that people who want an elevated mood are known to use. It contains the alkaloids, Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine. In mice, 7-hydroxymitragynine has been shown to metabolize mitragynine. Researchers are looking into it for potential pain relieving properties. Mitragyna Speciosa is in the coffee family, and in smaller doses, kratom powder is reported to act as a minor stimulant.
CBD
Cannabidiol, or CBD is another natural compound that has not been approved by the FDA, with one exception. There is an anti-seizure medication that has been approved. Yet, CBD is extremely popular among its community. It is generally sourced from hemp, and CBD products contain virtually no THC, the compound that creates the “high” that people feel when they smoke marijuana. Instead people report a number of benefits. Among them is a reduction in depression and anxiety. Usually anxiety is treated with prescription drugs that can cause side effects like drowsiness, insomnia, sexual dysfunction, and agitation. For these reasons, many people try natural alternatives like CBD. Since it appears to have shown effects that you would expect to see with an antidepressant in animals, people will try it for the same reasons in their own lives. Many people continue to take CBD because they expect that it will help them. If you believe the same thing, then it might be worth investigating.
What’s Next
It’s not easy to figure out how to feel better when COVID-19 lockdowns are affecting us so significantly. One great way to sort things out is by keeping a journal. Start with the obvious things, like sleeping better and getting regular exercise. Then, consider some of the other ideas. Write down the foods you eat, including those that are said to serve as mood boosters. If you try any natural remedies or prescription drugs, then keep track of those things, too. If you keep good records, you’ll start to see trends and can adjust your habits accordingly. From there, you can make decisions that are backed up by your real-world experiences. In the meantime, stay healthy, stay safe, and stay positive.