Episode 52: Helping Young People Cope with the Pandemic on the Queen's Power Podcast

The Good Mood Podcast

“I was involved in ______ and then, the Pandemic hit...” how many of us have that story?
I feel so so lucky to have had surfing in the last year. Something to get me out, give me purpose, exercise and community. Something that can be done outside at a distance, for relatively little money (once you have the gear, that is).
I did a podcast with Queen’s University’s Health and Nutrition Society. They told me students are staying up all night, sleeping all day, feeling isolated and asked me for some tips (as an ND and Queen’s grad).
Things are so hard right now. It’s not easy. But you must must must find purpose. Find routine. Find your community (or start one).
Undergrad was really hard on my mental health. I remember my time at Queen’s with mixed emotions. I can’t imagine being there (or anywhere as a student or young person) now. But we don’t have a choice. Our lives have forever changed but our bodies and souls still need what they need. How can we find strength and support in this time?
I personally have let the ball get away from me over and over again this past year. But... what else can we do but jog over to it, bouncing sadly and weakly in the corner, and pick it up again?
Maybe it’s ok. It’s already here.

This is a cross post, the original Queen's Power Podcast can be accessed here https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1-hormones-mental-health-naturopath-talia-marcheggiani/id1559886667?i=1000514199234

I talked to Alexandra (Ali) Romain a second year engineering chemistry student at Queen's about mood, hormones, and mental health, including tops on how to keep to a schedule (and the benefits of doing so and no! Don't go, schedules can be sexy and fun--contrary to limiting your spontaneity they can be your ticket to freedom and wellbeing).

In fact, I wish I was a better scheduler when I was at Queen's. I wish I'd known about adaptogenic herbs. I wish I'd known about the important of sleep. I was forced to organize myself while I was there but not without going through some major growing pains and mental health dips along the way. I try to impart some wisdom to my younger self, as well as all the students and young people out there going through this time.

This episode is for you if you're struggling right now. If you're in your teens or twenties or have someone in your life who is, please listen and let me know what you think. For more on coping I highly recommended episodes 50 and 51 with Victoria Sabo, registered psychotherapist where we discuss our collective emotions surrounding the pandemic and (in episode 51) where we run through 10 major points that can help us cope.

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