This article is written by Katelyn:
Katelyn is from Malaysia and is an active mental health advocate, especially in children and youths. She is inspired by the current Prince and Princess of Wales - William and Kate when they started Heads Together. To know more about Katelyn’s advocacy, click on the link to learn more: www.linktr.ee/katelynchinmunconferences97
Also, to follow her personal journey: you can follow her on Katelyn's personal Instagram and Twitter @katelynchin97
After being careful for about four years, I was contracted with Covid-19. After the first hour of being tested, I was feeling full of energy but as time passed, I could feel my energy was going down and the symptoms started to come in. I started to cut down the work I had in hand to replace with a good rest.
Although I have mental preparation that COVID is still around, I could get the disease anytime. When COVID came to my place in Melaka a couple of years back, I did not know what to do, I was washing everything vigorously and doing test every morning because I would get COVID anytime if I was not careful anytime. Also, I have a grandparent who is in their 80s and is a stroke patient, the high-level consciousness was there, taking all the precautionary steps that I could not get myself infected with the disease.
This time I am not so scared anymore because when I got COVID, it is not classified as a global pandemic anymore, it is classified as a regular flu and cough. One thing is I am more stable than two years ago. During the period of my recovery, how did I keep my mental health in top form?
First is to take lots of rest! Though the first two days were the worst ones with bones aching and dizziness, gradually the pain subsided on the third or fourth day of the recovery – it depends on one’s body system too!
Secondly, I cut down on the time I spend on social media. This is a challenge for me because I barely take any time off from social media because my work involves in it. At the same time, I am doing my best not to scroll through my phone while I was resting, disconnect awhile to connect with myself.
Thirdly, reading can help with mental health too! Since I started to pick up reading again, I would make sure I will spend about 10 to 15 minutes of reading, it became my nightly routine before I head to bed.
Fourthly, I am lucky to have a support system throughout my recovery. My grandma called over every day to check on the recovery period, my friends they keep me in prayers or to say in a Buddhist term, sending Metta (meaning loving kindness). Also, my colleagues at work also had been understanding too!
Now that I am recovering well, my energy is getting back on track! I hope to make a full recovery soon in the coming weeks.
Good job Katelyn...
Keep it up