Surviving Covid-19
Garry D. Cook, M.Div., LCSW
Top medical experts tell us that to stay well during the pandemic crisis we should social distance, wear a face mask when around others outside our immediate family, and wash our hands often. These simple techniques serve to keep our bodies as healthy as possible. However, we almost never hear anyone talk about how to keep ourselves mentally and emotionally healthy in this very stressful time. Like the simple protective steps to physical health, steps in protecting our mental health are not rocket science but ordinary. Below are some suggestions you might try if you are emotionally struggling like so many others at this difficult time.
Keep normal any part of your life that can be safely kept normal. Though we can become bored, human beings generally like sameness and benefit from routine. Though it is tempting to stay up late or to sleep in during the day, a regular routine is the best ticket toward mental health.
Communicate with people regularly. We can do this via phone, email, text, cards and letters, or an app like Zoom or FaceTime. Humans are social beings, even those who are introverts. This is the way God made us, to relate. We need regular contact with others to be whole. So, we can check in with others or check on those who might need it. It will be good for everyone. Chatting, telling stories, or playing games with family is good, too.
While humans need social interaction, we can also become worn out with it. Everyone needs some “me” time where others are not present. Stuck at home with family, this can prove difficult. Still, if the family discusses this, everyone can agree to have an opportunity to check out and be alone in a room for a while or walk alone outside. This will make time for reflection, making plans, or personal assessment. But after lots of interaction simply vegetating can be a welcome relief.
Don’t neglect your hobbies. If you don’t have a hobby, perhaps you can consider developing one. We all benefit from time spent with ourselves or others doing something enjoyable or meaningful. Reading, playing a musical instrument, sewing or knitting, painting, fixing things, digging through a music collection, potting plants, etc. can be quite pleasant and can draw our minds away from troubles and responsibilities.
Don’t neglect sleep, healthy meals, and regular exercise. If we are isolating at home, lifting a fork can become the only exercise we get. Snacks can begin to take the place of wholesome food. Irregular sleep can become the “routine.” Good sleep, healthy meals, and exercise are all parts of not only a physically healthy life but also a mentally healthy one. Be sure not to neglect these.
If your mood starts to sour or is already rotten--inordinate anxiety, low mood, excessive anger, alarming irritability, or apathy--talk with trusted friends or family about your feelings, your situation, and your mood. If that does not prove helpful, contact a counselor for assistance. You can easily see a counselor via internet without the risk of physical closeness or contact during the pandemic. Allowing difficult moods to escalate is very bad for our mental and relational health.
So, you see, no rocket science here. These are things anyone can do. Maybe they can help you.
