Equilibrium

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Coping During COVID-19

Brooke Shotwell

The coronavirus outbreak and the subsequent has been stressful in many different ways, touching almost every aspect of our lives from health, economics, food supply, mental health, and social structures. This time has been a clear example of the fact that we all process stress in different ways and have different needs when faced with difficult situations. While we remain concerned and vigilant regarding the global health crisis COVID-19 presents, the mental well-being of those affected directly and indirectly by the health, economic, and social fallout of the pandemic must be top of mind as well. In addition to the mental toll, prolonged stress of the kind we’ve experienced over the last few months has serious health implications including lowering immune function and increasing inflammation.

Stress during an infectious disease outbreak can include:

  • Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones.

  • Changes in sleep or eating patterns.

  • Difficulty sleeping or concentrating.

  • Worsening of chronic health problems.

  • Worsening of mental health conditions.

  • Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.

How to manage and improve mental health during this time

Research has shown that one of the most effective ways to cultivate a positive mood and combat stress is by giving back and helping others. While the ways in which we do this might look different now, finding ways to take care of your friends, your family, and your community is a powerful act of self-care.

This video from CGP Grey introduces a useful metaphor for some of the struggles of physical isolation and strategies to cope with them. Although we are now phasing into re-opening, these are still great tips for self-care at any point.

Here are some more ideas to cope with stress during this time (or any time):

Get Help.

We hope that you and your loved ones are as healthy and as happy as possible right now. If you, or someone you care about, are feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression, or anxiety, or feel like you want to harm yourself or others: