Between social media, news outlets, everyday kitchen table conversations, press conferences on the national and state level, daily updates from the Mississippi Department of Health, people are inundated with information about COVID-19.
The uncertainty about the virus can lead to anxiety. People fear unemployment, financial shortfalls, missing out on life’s moments, rules and restrictions that are faced, and, of course, the virus itself. It can be overwhelming.
However, Jonathan Grantham, clinical coordinator for Life Help, offers a bit of advice to those who feel overwhelmed during this time. Breathe. Reach out to their loved ones, find the humor in the day, and remember that this is only temporary. And, for those having a tough time coping with their feelings, they can contact Life Help.
“Everyone should be reaching out to see how people are doing, whether they have known mental health issues or not,” he said.
It is one of the 25 Tips for coping available on Life Help’s website.
Grantham said since the COVID-19 pandemic was announced, Life Help has seen an increase in calls, but not more than what they usually see.
“There has been a slight increase,” Grantham said. He said anyone who needs to contact Life Help is welcomed to call the hotline and speak to a master-level therapist.
For those who may be wary of talking to a therapist, he said they should be reassured that all calls are strictly confidential. And during this time, people must remember to reach out to their therapist, preachers, counselors, and other people who can help them.
If you’ve never tried therapy, it may be an excellent way to get your frustration and anxiety out the uncertainty of COVID-19. Grantham said people should be assured what said stays between them and their therapist.
“Whatever information they give out will not be given out to anyone else,” he said.
Grantham reiterated that during this time, even though face-to-face contact is discouraged, people should find other means to reach out to their family, friends, and those around them.
The tips from Simon Fraser University, originated from Eileen Feliciano, a psychologist licensed in New York State. The tips can be found posted on Life Help’s website and Grantham said people can use them to help them cope during this time.
A few of them are:
Stick to a routine. Feliciano said that people should go to sleep and wake up at a reasonable time, write a schedule that is varied and includes time for work as well as self-care.
“Find some time to move each day, again daily for at least thirty minutes. If you do not feel comfortable going outside, many YouTube videos offer free movement classes, and if all else fails, turn on the music and have a dance party.”
Give everyone the benefit of the doubt and a wide berth. “A lot of time cooped-up at home can bring out the worst in everyone. Each person will have moments when they will not be at their best,” Feliciano said. “It is important to move with grace through blowups, to not show up to every argument you are invited to, and not to hold grudges and continue disagreements. Everyone is doing the best they can to make it through this.”
Everyone finds their own retreat space. “It is important that people think through their own separate space for work and relaxation. For children, help them identify a place where they can go to retreat when stressed,” she said. “You can make this place cozy by using blankets, pillows, cushions, scarves, beanbags, tents, and ‘forts.’ It is good to know that even when we are on top of each other, we have our own special place to go to be alone,”
Lower expectations and practice radical self-acceptance. “We are doing too many things in this moment, under fear and stress. This does not make a formula for excellence. Instead, give yourself what psychologists call ‘radical self-acceptance’: accepting everything about yourself, your current situation, and your life without question, blame, or pushback,” she said. “You cannot fail at this—there is no roadmap, no precedent for this, and we are all truly doing the best we can in an impossible situation.”
Limit social media and COVID conversation, especially around children. “One can find tons of information on COVID-19 to consume, and it changes minute to minute. The information is often sensationalized, negatively skewed, and alarmist,” Feliciano said. “Find a few trusted sources that you can check in with consistently, limit it to a few times a day, and set a time limit for yourself on how much you consume (again 30 minutes tops, 2-3 times daily). Keep news and alarming conversations out of earshot from children—they see and hear everything, and can become very frightened by what they hear.”
Find something you can control, and control the heck out of it. “In moments of big uncertainty and overwhelm, control your little corner of the world,” she said. “Organize your bookshelf, purge your closet, put together that furniture, group your toys. It helps to anchor and ground us when the bigger things are chaotic.”
Find lightness and humor in each day. “There is a lot to be worried about, and with good reason. Counterbalance this heaviness with something funny each day: cat videos on YouTube, a stand-up show on Netflix, a funny movie—we all need a little comedic relief in our day, every day,” Feliciano said.
The biggest tips Feliciano offers is that this quarantine is temporary.
Remind yourself daily that this is temporary. “It seems in the midst of this quarantine that it will never end. It is terrifying to think of the road stretching ahead of us,” she said. “Please take time to remind yourself that although this is very scary and difficult, and will go on for an undetermined amount of time, it is a season of life and it will pass. We will return to feeling free, safe, busy, and connected in the days ahead.”
Grantham said if anyone needs help or needs someone to talk to, they can call Life Help’s hotline at 1-866-453-6216 or call the Winona office at 662-283-2529.
