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How to use Your HSA for your mental health

No matter how you slice it, times are tough right now. If you’re in need of a little extra TLC, consider looking to your HSA.

Hey there, how are you doing?

It’s ok if you’re feeling out of sorts these days, or a bit more anxious than usual. Even for those of us whose physical health has remained intact during these uncertain times, we’re all feeling lots of different effects of the coronavirus outbreak. 

It’s become all the more important, though, as the weeks in quarantine become months, and how much longer this will go on remains a question… remember that you must attend to your emotional and mental health, too. 

Just… chill.

This might seem silly in a time when many of us feel like all we’re really doing is chilling. Rest assured, with all the craziness going on in the world, your mind could use some rest and realization. The idea here is to make a concerted effort at doing whatever makes you feel best, (while still practicing social distancing best practices).

This could mean reading a book, going for a walk, or purchasing a product that will actually do some of the relaxing work for you. Many acupressure mats and pillows are HSA-eligible and come in cute designs. All you need to do is to lie down (it might feel weird at first) for a little while and your muscles will start to feel better. It’s cool, trust us.

There are also TENS devices which you attach to certain body parts that can send tiny electric pulses to your muscle to help ease pain. With either the acupressure mat or TENS machine, take it as an excuse for you to sit back, take a breather, and calm your mind.

Take part in therapy.

There is no shame in getting professional help if you’re finding it harder than usual to manage right now. Staying on top of your mental health will benefit all aspects of your life, and if it means you need to talk to someone, so be it!

Right now, telehealth services including mental health therapy are HSA-eligible. Thanks to the CARES Act, telemedicine visits are an eligible expense pre-deductible. And of course, if after taking part in therapy you are recommended a prescription, that’s HSA-eligible, too. Some therapists might even work on a sliding scale if your income has been impacted in the past few months.

If this is something that particularly interests you, check out what the folks over at Carbon Health are doing. They’re currently offering virtual mental health sessions

Get enough sleep (!)

Sounds simple, doesn’t it? Well, it’s not, and especially not these days. 

It can be hard to sleep well given that you may be overwhelmed with all things coronavirus permeating your brain. But your HSA can really help during this time.

Thanks to the CARES Act, some over-the-counter (OTC) medications that typically required a prescription don’t anymore (score!). This means that some sleep aids (even a few homeopathic nerve tension and sleeplessness relief tablets!) may be HSA-eligible. Of course, it’s always best to talk to your doctor first to see whether something like this is the right move for you.

If you don’t want to go that route, there are plenty of other ways to help you get better sleep. HSA-eligible items like bed warmers (if you like your surroundings snuggly while catching some Zs) and relaxation eye masks may be just the thing you need to finally get those perfect 8 hours.

Whether or not you choose to use your HSA funds, remember to take care!