COVID-19 Reflections
Since early March the United States has been dealing with challenges regarding handling the COVID-19 virus. Most states have implemented major changes including closing schools, limiting store hours, closing restaurants or limiting to take out, and cancelling public events. Many are working from home. This is a time of a lot of fear in our country. Fear of the virus and spreading it to others, economic uncertainties, fear of not having enough supplies at home during a quarantine, and more.
While these times are generally hard to some degree for all, for people that are prone to periods of anxiety and depression, this can be especially stressful. Here are some ideas for taking care of your mental health during this time.
Focus on what you can control. Most of us do not have a direct impact on decisions made by government leaders. We can voice our opinions, but what will be closed or open and how others will handle this crisis is not ultimately up to us. You can choose this time to focus on a smaller scale on taking care of yourself and your famliy the best you can.
Take reasonable precautions. If you are prone to anxiety, realize that you can be prone to catastrophic thinking. You will need to be vigilant in protecting yourself from your own thoughts. Ask yourself, is this an ant or a grizzly bear? How big is this problem? If we respond to every problem as if it is a grizzly bear, our anxiety levels will stay at an extreme high. Incorporate some time for meditation, prayer, yoga, etc so you can feel more calm.
Keep a routine. Go to bed and wake up at similar times even if you have reduced work hours from working at home or are not working or going to school. Keep in touch with family and friends online, through social media, and email and texting. Eat healthy meals at regularly scheduled times. If you work from home, keep normal work hours as best you can. If your children are at home, keep a scheduled routine for them so they know what to expect during the day. You can be flexible, but not so flexible there is no routine. This will add to your childs sense of normalcy and calm.
Remember that your moods and your anxiety can be contagious too. If you live with others, you are all spending more time together in close quarters. Many families will be having a lot of extra family time. Do your best to stay positive, enjoy time with people that you love, find new hobbies to do together (or alone) , tackle a house project you have been avoiding. Talk about your fears with a significant other, or close friend, but be mindful of what children hear. They need to see the adults in their lives handling this with grace, reason and resilience the best they can. They also do not need to be burdened by adult problems.
Limit news and social media if this makes you feel more scared. Ask a trusted friend to give you some basic updates. Information overload can be stressful for some, overwhelming and simply unnecessary and unhelpful (not to mention impossible) to know EVERYTHING.
Find some ways you can help. Donate time, food, money resources, etc if you have the means. This can be a time to help show your concern and love for your greater community.
I am offering online counseling for those who desire it! Do not hesitate to reach out. Stay well!
