MENTAL HEALTH -COVID 19

Monday, March 30, 2020

YOUR MENTAL HEALTH-COVID-19

While information on COVID-19 is changing daily (sometimes hourly), one thing that can remain constant is the added stress it causes many people. As COVID-19 becomes more real as it spreads thru Nebraska, it is disrupting our daily lives, i.e., no school, no church, no work, staying home, social distancing, and avoiding crowds. Living like this can be lonely, inconvenient and even frightening, but we must remember it’s for the greater good. With these disruptions come fear and anxiety over the unknown; this can be overwhelming and can cause very strong unsettled emotions in both children and adults. Some may feel frustrated, bored or scared; others may be angry and confused with this massive disruption of normal. All these emotions can intensify stress and anxiety.

In times like these, taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical health. People will react to this pandemic differently; so be courteous of others feelings, and try to help reduce stress in yourself and those around you.

Some simple things you can do to support yourself and family members are:

*Take breaks from the news. Whether it’s on tv, radio or social media, constantly reading or hearing about the pandemic can be very upsetting. Give yourself a break! Turn off the TV, turn off the radio, turn off social media; take a break.

*Take care of YOU. Take deep breaths, exercise, mediate, get fresh air, eat healthy, well-balanced meals, get plenty of sleep and avoid drugs and alcohol. It’s also important to keep some level of normalcy in your life so try to stick to a daily routine, (get up and shower in the morning, do designated chores or tasks at the same time each day…)

*Make time to unwind. Do something you enjoy. Read a good book, work on a puzzle, learn a new hobby, write in a journal, it’s just important to let your mind relax and unwind.

*Connect with others. Even if we can’t hug best friends or go visit elderly parents, technology gives us options to help keep these connections. Using Facetime, Skype, ZOOM, or phone calls (try to make yourself call four people/day) and text messaging, all these can help keep us connected. Despite the necessary social distancing, we can actually strengthen our relationships during these difficult times.

We at CCHS understand and share your concern about the COVID-19 pandemic. We are prepared for whatever lies ahead, but continue to ask for everyone’s help with the containment of COVID-19. By working together we will get through this and be stronger together. Remember, tough times don’t last, tough people do.

Below are phone numbers and website with wonderful resources to help everyone cope:

*Nebraska Family Helpline- 1-888-866-8660

*Disaster Distress Helpline- 1-800-985-5990

*National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-8255

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/managing-stress-anxiety.html