The global (and local) COVID-19 pandemic shines a light on the extraordinary stressors that many people can face during these uncertain times.
To help recognize the signs and symptoms of behavioral health disorders that can be adversely affected by such events, this article offers strategies to address potential issues — obviously, from an attorney (Clooten Law’s) perspective.
In an emergency (pandemic) like COVID-19 (corona virus), a lot of behavioral health disorders may be exacerbated (or surface for the first time), including depression, anxiety and substance use disorders. Clooten Law is looking at promoting our own resilience so that we preserve our competence and fitness to practice.
When a state of heightened anxiety persists for long periods of time, the symptoms of anxiety and depression can cause people to anxious, unsure and have a sense of almost paralysis.
These emotions are triggered by stress and can play out differently for anxiety versus depression. Anxiety causes overwhelming feelings of fear and distress. Depression can lead to changes in patterns of sleep, appetite and movement. This pandemic (Covid) is causing everyone to experience extreme stress.
Here are some general strategies to help deal with anxiety:
Although it can be difficult, practice tolerating uncertainty. You are vulnerable to anxiety if you cannot tolerate uncertainty. The solution: take it one day at time. Certainty will return, but until then, try to find little ways to find certainty in our everyday life. Try not to text a friend or family member when you need an immediate answer. Set the phone down, and wait. Another important way to deal with uncertainty is to relish in routine.
THE IMPORTANCE OF ROUTINE IN A PANDEMIC. Finding a routine, is an excellent way to maintain balance and a sense of normalcy. Little things like the time of day you wake up, and when you make meals. The way you go about making meals, and where you eat dinner. Shows you watch with a partner, or child. Having a bedtime routine (not only for children, but yourself!). Whatever routine you have, implement and repeat, and through that pattern, you will feel normalcy and control return to your mind.
Tackle the anxiety paradox. The more you try to not feel anxious, the more anxious you get. One way to deal with this is meditation. Another is to go for a walk, while listening to classical music. Another is to run. I find it very difficult to be anxious when I am completely out of breathe after doing a really hard exercise.
Don’t try to escape anxiety, embrace it. The more we realize that this is our current world, the more we can take back control. Some people relinquish control to “God’s will”. Others to Karma. Whatever your method, the sooner you become comfortable with the lack of control, the sooner you’ll be able to move on and control anxiety.
Practice gratitude daily. It sounds cliché, but even during this pandemic, there is a lot to be thankful for in the United States. Food is delivered to our doorstep. Hopefully, your family is still in good health. Hopefully, you personally are in good health. Find the good in your life, and focus on that rather than the things that you used to be able to do, that have been temporarily halted.
Debrief and connect with others. Misery loves company. Find others to communicate with, at a very base level, we are still humans, and humans crave connection. The more
Limit social media. Consider, shutting it off. I personally disconnected from social media a couple months into the pandemic in an effort to re-connect with the world around me. I find myself looking at the blue mountains, or staring into the Umatilla River a lot more often than I used to. It has been a refreshing change to refreshing my facebook page.
