Chaim B. Colen, MD, PhD
Coronavirus (COVID-19) has cemented a concern of uncertainty and anxiety in the human race. Coronavirus is now officially being called a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), with public fear and anxiety on the rise. Individuals have been experiencing high degree of uncertainty, worry and stress about the health and safety of their loved ones, because of the disruption in their normal work-flow and personal lives.
To support overall better psychological health, we recommend you consider the following six tips:
- Plan.
- Let loved ones know that you are thinking and looking ahead, that you will stay well-informed and that you can answer the questions they already have: What if I get sick? How do I take time off work? What if my family member contracts the virus?
- Communicate and be transparent.
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- Worry and fear grow in the absence of up-to-date information. Let your family know that they can expect regular updates from you. Communicate even if the situation remains unchanged.
- Empathize.
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- Share that you know it’s stressful. Recognize that it’s okay to be anxious. Remind your family of resources available for those who are experiencing stress.
- Reassure others.
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- You can refer to reports indicating that most people who become infected with the virus will recover.
- Understand.
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- Recognize when stress has become unmanageable for individual family members. Stress can lead to anxiety and even panic. Some people may need mental health counseling and medical intervention in order to cope. Encourage your family to practice self-care activities and reassure them that it’s ok to take steps to manage stress, such as relaxation exercises, listening to relaxing music or taking regular breaks from chores.
- Recognize chaos.
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- Know that work will be impacted—work will slow down, travel may be interrupted. Reassurance that expectations will shift accordingly, and that’s ok. We will get through this!
There are various professional medical services that can also help; IV hydration, remote psychological therapies, individualized, medical services including; physician burnout as doctor’s support the sick, rebuilding identity, managing anxiety, neurobiofeedback, regression analysis, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), emotional de-escalation, creative expression, coping skills, memory care and anger management.
Learn more at Inspire Palm Beach (www.inspirepalmbeach.com)
Additional resources:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/hope-resilience/202003/how-stay-emotionally-healthy-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak