Quarantine. Who knew that such a small yet complex word could have an unimaginable influence on civilization for years to come. By definition, quarantine is when people or animals that arrived from elsewhere or have been exposed to the infectious or contagious disease will be placed in a state, period, or place of isolation. In plain words, you must remain away from others outside your home.

Who remembers that on March 12th, everyone was concerned about COVID demolishing their March Breaks. Yet, there was a sensation of comfort because we were all told that this illness could be cured. Boy, they went sike on us! Instead of having three weeks off, it modified into almost a whole year gone like that. Well, it's been actually seven months of a pandemic, but I think we can all agree that time went by too quickly. Even I still feel like it's June right now if it weren't for the leaves changing colour.

2020 began as a unique decade bursting with fresh beginnings. I can now guarantee you that no one here is even remotely close to the person they were from March several months ago. We have all matured physically, emotionally, and especially mentally. Most people were able to use this time to be away from all those toxic people they encounter every day. Quarantine may have empowered them to discover themselves in a way they never imagined possible. Some people were able to focus on their mental health as a priority. 2020 allowed for new possibilities than ever before.

The Journey

Countless people are spending quarantine alone. This pandemic has generated a sensation of solitude that was usually replaced with all the interactions with others daily. Some people could also be in quarantine with loved ones, but still seeming alone. As a result, this has produced a larger number of people to obtain anxiety, depression, PTSD, and infinite other illnesses that are taking over their daily lives.

Mental illness is not something to joke about, but preferably to be taken seriously because this may result in any of us. Whether it's the engaged mom that feels submerged with taking care of her kids and working non-stop to the point where she begins to undergo anxiety. It could also be the teenager who consumes his whole day locked inside his room, causing him to start to think about suicide. You never know who this can fall onto, so you must be appreciative of everyone because you don't know what battles they are fighting inside.

Some people assume that mental illnesses will never get better. They appear alone in this world because no one is upholding the same battles as them. Everyone has their own story to scribble down in a book, but it's the characters on every page that make each chapter stand out. Everyone needs a minute amount of assistance, even superheroes. Batman has Robin, Harry Potter has Ron Wealsy, and Damon Salvatore has Stefan Salvatore. Realizing and requesting for help is the second step to a prosperous future. The first step to getting your life back together is to acknowledge that you are not alone. There is always someone, could be a family member, a friend, or a support group, but there is someone there to help.

The next step is to figure out the origin of your dilemmas and uncover methods to make life more effortless for yourself. For me, quarantine allowed things to stack on top of another. I would regularly panic if I didn’t conclude everything I needed to do on that day, and became extremely obsessed about every miniature task that occurred during that moment. I was having headaches that would last for days, and after the last one became way too powerful, I realized I was slipping. One of the first things I did was inform my Mom because I trust her, and I knew she was my sidekick in this chapter.

With the guidance of my mom, I was capable of organizing my calendar and creating flexible lists so I would not stress over finishing everything every day. Whenever I felt like I could not handle anything, I reminded myself to take a step back and say: “Do not stress over the little things because they are little for a reason". My life was subsequently snapping back into place, and in turn, I grew closer with my family since then.

Take Control Of Your Life

Everyone has inner battles they need to dominate throughout their life by themselves, but sometimes, a little assistance should be more than welcome. Here are some tips you can do whenever you feel overwhelmed that your head will explode into a million pieces.

∙ Go Outside. Stop at any moment and go for a walk, a bike ride or a run. Breath in the fresh air, and listen to the birds’ songs. Allow your mind to come to ease, and make room for new ideas to float inside.
∙ Eat Healthily. Allowing nutrients to go into your body, allows for nutrients to supply your body against any attacks from illness, allows your face to clear up, and allows you to begin fixing yourself from within. Warning: Do be too strict with eating healthy to an extreme either. Find a balance to where you eat nutritious food based on your lifetime and once in a while, treat yourself
∙ Learn a new skill. Whether it be how to bake a cake, donate your old clothes or how to perform CPR, do something that will give you the satisfaction that you did something good towards your planet and to start finding pieces of success all over again.
∙ Be yourself. Kick out anyone that brings you down, to make room for those who lift you. If you want to wear that Yellow Sweater that makes you feel comfy, or you want to become president of the company, you do you, my friend. It is your life after all.