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Staying Mentally Healthy During Self-Isolation or Quarantine<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n The Department of Mental Health offers the information below, gathered from a range of experts, to This information is compiled and adapted from several sources, including a New York Times Get the Facts<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Beware getting information on-line from unknown sources. The best sources of information about Be Kind to Yourself<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n This is a time of great uncertainty, and meanwhile, other challenges in our lives continue. You may If we react to the additional anxiety that we may feel as a result of the risks associated with the Identify the Source (s) of your Anxiety<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n This may sound ridiculous \u2013 it\u2019s the Coronavirus! But what about the situation we find ourselves in Let your Anxiety be a Unifying Force<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n You may be thinking, \u201cgreat, I know everything is uncertain, I\u2019ve acknowledged I\u2019m anxious and even The CDC, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and other Front Porch Forum, a free community-building online message board, is an excellent way to learn of Self-Care is Key<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n It\u2019s easy to put off taking care of ourselves while we are busy getting ready for an emergency, Maintain Healthy Routines<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n The Coronavirus and concerns about the illness it causes, has upended most of our daily routines. A Start today to create new routines that support your well-being. You might start your day with a walk As your day progresses, think about where you can build-in healthy breaks, using some of the Staying Mentally Healthy During Self-Isolation or Quarantine The Department of Mental Health offers the information below, gathered from a range of experts, to help Vermonters cope in this time of uncertainty. While we may not be able to take part in our usual work and social routines, we can create new routines and practices to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ncssinc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/490"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ncssinc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ncssinc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ncssinc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ncssinc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=490"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.ncssinc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/490\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":499,"href":"https:\/\/www.ncssinc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/490\/revisions\/499"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ncssinc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=490"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ncssinc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=490"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ncssinc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=490"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nhelp Vermonters cope in this time of uncertainty. While we may not be able to take part in our usual
\nwork and social routines, we can create new routines and practices to help us feel well.<\/p>\n
\ninterview with psychologist and author Dr. Harriet Lerner, the Harvard Medical School\u2019s blog,
\nHealthbeat, the Centers for Disease Control and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
\nAdministration.<\/p>\n
\nthe Coronavirus can be found at these sites:<\/p>\n\n
\nbe dealing with a chronic health issue or supporting a family member with on-going health
\nchallenges completely unrelated to the Coronavirus. There may be other issues within your family
\nthat are troubling, or with your job. You may struggle with anxiety or depression on a daily basis, or
\nother mental health challenges.<\/p>\n
\nCoronavirus by comparing ourselves to others who seem to be coping better or telling ourselves we
\nare \u201cweak\u201d we may increase our anxiety and feelings of isolation.
\nNow is the time for self-compassion. Be as kind to yourself as you are to a precious loved one.<\/p>\n
\nbecause of the Coronavirus is making you anxious? Is it the uncertainty? Risk to you? A loved one?
\nAnd yes, you may be feeling anxious about all three of those things and more. But as psychologist
\nand author Dr. Harriet Lerner told the New York Times, getting specific can be greatly beneficial. If
\nwe can identify what is anxiety-producing, we can get a little distance from it, instead of feeling like
\nwe\u2019re immersed in an all-encompassing sense of unease.<\/p>\n
\nidentified the specific factors making me anxious. I\u2019m still anxious and self-isolating, however. Now
\nwhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\nmental health experts, recommend connecting with others and asking what you can do to help
\nthem, while also sharing with them what you need. The help that can be shared, of course, is limited
\nduring a time of social-distancing and self-isolation, but phone calls, on-line meet-ups using SKYPE,
\nFace-Time or Zoom, for example, can help with loneliness and boredom. You can still have dinner
\nwith friends \u2013 schedule a meet-up online and eat together.<\/p>\n
\ncommunity needs for connection and to post your own.<\/p>\n
\nresponding to an emergency, or when we are feeling overwhelmed. It may feel like \u201cjust one more
\nthing\u201d to do, but taking a walk, practicing yoga (and if you have limited mobility, there are sites for
\nyoga for you too) or other stress reductions techniques such as mindfulness, or taking a few
\nmoments to read something uplifting can shift our mood and help us get a different perspective in
\ntrying times. There is also evidence that managing our stress in healthy ways can strengthen our
\nimmune system.<\/p>\n
\nlarge number of people are self-isolating or in quarantine in their homes; others are still reporting to
\na workplace, but what they do when they arrive there is deeply affected by the new reality we\u2019re
\nliving in as a result of the Coronavirus. While many of us may chafe from too much routine, having
\nour day-to-day habits disrupted or even erased for a significant period of time can itself be a source
\nof anxiety.<\/p>\n
\n(outdoors and staying at least six feet away from anyone else), or with 10 minutes or more of
\nmindfulness.<\/p>\n
\ntechniques, above. And in the evening, while watching a movie may be fun, you might also choose
\nto play a musical instrument, study different types of music you listen to, start a journal or other
\nwriting project, and of course, talk to friends and family on the phone or via an on-line platform.
\nMaking these kinds of activities a regular part of your day and week will help you navigate selfisolation
\nor quarantine as healthfully as possible.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"