By Ben & Sarah Corbitt
Many of you have probably found yourselves in the same boat as us lately. Life was fairly normal up through mid-March, and then suddenly we had much more free time on our hands due to COVID-19 and the stay-home orders and economic shutdowns the virus has brought into our lives.
As school psychologists, we spend a lot of time advising students about ways to guard their mental health during normal times. During extraordinary times, these concerns have become all the more important. While many of us are spending much more time in close quarters, here are some things to be aware of.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) advise to be on the lookout for stress during this outbreak, which can be accompanied by the following signs:
Fear and worry about your own health, or health of your loved ones
Changes in sleeping or eating patterns
Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
Worsening of chronic health problems
Worsening of mental health conditions
Increased use of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs
The CDC offers the following healthy advice to combat stress:
Take a break from the news. There is little value in repeatedly hearing the same information.
Take care of your body. This can include breaks for deep breathing, stretching, or meditating; eating healthy, well-balanced meals; getting plenty of sleep; avoiding drugs and alcohol; and exercising regularly. (Get creative with free workout routines on YouTube which require minimal exercise equipment.)
Practice enjoyable activities. Needlework, crossword puzzles, musical instruments, and other hobbies can keep your mind engaged while you shelter in place.
Maintain personal connections. Being at home doesn’t have to mean being isolated. Use phone calls, email, texting, or face-to-face technologies (Skype, FaceTime, Zoom, etc.) to keep in touch with those you love. Also don’t forget the value of an old-fashioned handwritten letter.
If anxiety, depression, or other stress-related symptoms continue to worsen, reach out to someone who can help. This might mean:
Your personal healthcare provider
One of our St. Matthias Stephen Ministers (contact Fr. Bill for more information)
Disaster Distress Helpline (1-800-985-5990, or text TalkWithUs to 66746)
Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255)
In a mental health emergency, call 911
We are all in this together, even if it feels like we are dealing with this crisis alone. We hope to see you all again in person when this is over.
Photo by VisionPic .net from Pexels