Coping with COVID

Many of you may be anxious, stressed or upset with everything going on in the world right now.

Whether you suffer from mental-health issues or not, it is perfectly understandable to be experiencing heightened senses of emotion during such a turbulent time.

I have compiled a list of ideas I think can go some way to helping alleviate the feelings of anxiety and upset right now.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on it, or if you have any further ideas that may help others.

Seek Help

It’s important to remember that help is still out there for you to access, no matter what issues you’re facing. With all the attention on COVID, it can be easy to forget about other health concerns, including your mental health.

Most family practices are still open, with an emphasis on telephone consults or even through online portals. If you have a health query, don’t hesitate to seek help. Let your doctor be the one to decide if it’s a priority.

Seeking help for mental-health support is more important than ever. Kelowna’s Crisis Response line is still running, and is available to listen whatever you wish to talk about.

CMHA Kelowna is also open, and can signpost you in the direction of further care.

Another great resource is www.heretohelp.bc.ca.

Give Help

One of the most amazing feelings is being able to help others, and there’s no time like the present. If you are able to, providing help and support in your community is an invaluable use of your time.

Whether it’s getting groceries for elderly neighbours, or offering childcare support to frontline workers, you’ll get a huge boost for your own sense of wellbeing by helping those around you.

If you’re at risk yourself, you can help from your home by offering your phone number to people who are in self-isolation, so that they can call and have a chat to alleviate the time alone.

Limit News

In a time of 24-hour news on the TV, shared news articles on your social media and news apps on your phone, the influx of information can be incessant.

I find it helpful to limit the amount of news I see in a day; too much and the state of the world can become overwhelmingly stressful.

• Delete news apps from your phone.
• Reduce time on social media
• Turn the TV off or change the channel after watching one or two news bulletins a day.

Create Routine

Most of us have seen a big change in our routines, with working from home or having the kids off school. As creatures of habit, we crave a sense of structure, and so creating a routine for your days will help alleviate the feeling of uncertainty.

Set alarms, have your meals at appointed times, and allocate set breaks from work or schooling. Make sure you’re getting showered and dressed properly in the morning; it may seem silly if you’re not going out, but the process of getting ready and feeling smart will help your productivity levels no end.

Self Care

Now is an excellent time to focus on your self care.

This means something different for everyone, but the essence is finding something that relaxes you and occupies your mind.

This could be:

• Yoga
• Meditation
• Reading
• A pamper session at home
• A walk
• Gardening
• A home workout
• Cooking or baking or taking the time to learn something new, like a language, dancing or knitting.

Whatever works for you, incorporate it into your daily routine. Along with self care for your mental wellbeing, make sure you’re looking after your physical health too.

Eating well, exercising, hydrating and getting enough sleep are all really important in keeping your body and mind healthy.

Connect with Others

If you didn’t use video calls before, now is the time to get stuck in. I’ve been able to connect with my family back in the U.K. far more than I normally would over the last month, as people are realizing the power of video calls.

We’ve done pub quizzes, had long chats about life, played games and seen each other’s living spaces far more than ever, and despite social distancing I feel more connected than ever to some of my closest friends.

Acknowledge Emotions

Despite all these measures, you’re likely to still feel anxious or down from time to time, and that’s OK. Talk about how you’re feeling with a friend or family member, or on the crisis line.

The chances are, they are feeling the same, and shared emotions are much easier to deal with than facing it on your own. If you feel like crying, let it out. I’ve cried a lot in the last few weeks, and every time I’ve felt a release of emotion that then lets me get on with my day and put those feelings behind me.

Whatever your situation, I hope you and your friends and family are keeping safe and well during this time. Remember to seek help and give help where you can, and most importantly, stay home to slow the spread.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.