Dealing with all the recent changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic we are left feeling isolated, anxious and fearful, and it is becoming the new truth for many; hitting closer to home and those around us, even ourselves. An increasing number of reports reveal the staggering growth in cases of individuals suffering from fear, depression, substance abuse and even suicide. We must use this time as an opportunity to raise awareness with our families and our communities, even ourselves in order to reduce the stigma that is often associated with mental health.
I personally have found myself being in a dual role. On one hand, going through the motions and at times feeling overwhelmed by media, I catch myself becoming more distant from close friends, family and coworkers with whom I used to be surrounded by daily. I realize I have been extremely lucky to have an opportunity to work from the safety of my home during this time, to continue to be productive and contribute to my organization (Concordance Healthcare Solutions) and servicing our customers. And even in moments of gratitude, we find it difficult to escape the nagging thoughts, for example, how I will be able to adapt going back to the office… Questioning if people (including myself) would be healthy enough to be around each other…or how to ease into projects that were temporarily on hold during coronavirus… In the grand scheme of things, this is nothing in comparison with the struggles others often face.
On the other, I have experienced being the support person for a close friend struggling with depression and anxiety. Very recently, just in the last few weeks I discovered the dark world of mental illness and how taxing it can be on the person suffering from it, as well as those around them. In addition to pre-existing conditions, quarantine has enabled the surfacing of a whole other set of emotions and feelings for my friend, such as that of loneliness and abandonment, emotional distancing and disconnect, experiencing loss and grief for events or circumstances that can be either hypothetical or forthcoming, substance abuse, even thoughts of suicide.
I also wanted to share some of the practices that can sometimes be so minor but have made a great impact on my own outlook and daily life in quarantine. Interestingly, some of them can be quite simple, even intuitive - hope you also find value incorporating them in your everyday life:
To learn more, check out the podcast links below – all dedicated to providing us with insight to the various symptoms and conditions we all experience differently but still affect our emotional, spiritual and mental wellness. I encourage you to utilize any of these tips to help spread positive messages of hope, empathy, mental health care and prevention.
Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Beth Rush, a Mayo Clinic neuropsychologist, shares ideas for taking care of your mental health and finding comfort amid the uncertainty: https://blubrry.com/mayoclinicqa/57556639/mental-health-and-coping-during-covid-19-crisis
Speaking of Psychology: Managing Your Mental Health During COVID-19 with Lynn Bufka, PhD: https://www.apa.org/research/action/speaking-of-psychology/covid-19-mental-health
Cleveland Cavaliers’ Kevin Love: Coping during Coronavirus: https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5hZGtuaXQuY29tL2FwcC1zZWFyY2gvY25uL2JlaW5nLWJvc3Mtd2l0aC1wb3BweS1oYXJsb3cvYWxsLzEwODAvMjAwLw&episode=YWIyMzZmZDEyYjRiMGY2NzMzMTc5M2NjYzAzYTg4MGEubXAz