Covid Isolation : A New Normal
Normal life for all of us changed in March 2020. An invisible enemy smashed through all of our borders and within a month all had a crash course in Social Distancing, wearing masks and paying large amounts for hand sanitizer and Clorox Wipes (IF you could find them).
Depending on what state you are in, as of rosy you’ve been on a Social Isolation Stay-Cation for 104 -115 days.
115 days of wearing masks, staying 6′ away from everyone, and 115 days of being anxious, nervous and overwhelmed.
We’ve seen a country that mostly believes that “those things don’t come here,” brought to its knees by something we can only see in a microscope.
Politically, the country is divided by Maskers and Anti-Maskers, by folks that believe that it’s a hoax and the genuine terrified “OMG We Are All Gonna Die” folks. No one can agree on anything because it’s a new virus, and we just don’t know. Mistakes were made, mistakes are still being made.
In the midst of all that are a lot of people that are genuinely concerned about their own health and the health of at risk people that they love.
There are too many obvious negative things that enter with COVID: sickness and too many people dying. Despite the depression, anger and anxiety, there have been some great shows of humanity. Many have stepped up with incredibly creative work arounds to help normalize and abnormal situation.
Netflix started Netflix Party, a plug in on chrome, so while you are watching your movies you can watch virtually with friends (Hulu too). Everyone found ways to not only work on zoom, but to meet for dinner parties, game nights, and dates. I even organized a Wine and Whine Skype party for my mommy-patients to have new blood to bitch about home schooling, dealing with children regressing, and generally being over the edge.
As a country we watched all of The Class of 2020 graduate, completely away from each other, on every major network.
In between all of these amazing events were a lot of empty days. We felt that April was the never ending month. Days ran one in to another. Days where we worried about getting groceries, masks, and hand sanitizer.
The first few weeks it was bearable if you had groceries and toilet paper. Most hunkered down and streamed a lot of movies and TV shows.
As the weeks ran into each other it became harder to find the fun in watching TV 24/7.
Families in the US are not used to being together 24/7. The happiest relationships are now a bit stressed.
For people that aren’t in a family unit it’s a time of feeling deeply alone and isolated.
Five Ways to Break Up The Monotony of COVID ISOLATION
VIDEO CHAT. When someone wants to call or text you, encourage them to video chat instead. Seeing someone’s face helps decrease the sense of being utterly alone. Now prepare for people to whine about having “covid hair” or push back because they haven’t had a shower. It makes no difference what they look like. You need to SEE faces -even if they are dirty! My patients that are video chatting weekly are less depressed than the ones that are staring at a text field.- MINDFUL MEDITATION is more effective than a massive dose of Xanax. It will help you stay centered, reduce your frustration and anxiety, and lower your blood pressure. You don’t have to “sit” for 30 minutes a day, although that is optimum. Just try just focusing on your breathing for 3-5 minutes. If guided meditation sound more palatable, you download the phone app Insight Timer . There are hundreds of free guided imagery and self hypnosis sessions. There are great ones for the kids too!
- GO OUTSIDE – grab your masks, distance but get some fresh air. Since the summer temperatures are stifling, maybe try to take the dog and kids out early in the morning. Most people are already working so you’ll have some time to run free while keeping a 6′ distance from strangers.
- WRITE I know you feel like you’ll never forget the Pandemic of 2020 but even the horrible events will fade. Write. Journal. Make a gratitude list (” I am so grateful I have 25 rolls of TP in the garage”). Write about your feelings, write about your kids making you crazy, write about the news. Whatever is on your mind. You never know, your memoire might be the Anne Frank’s Diary of COVID.
- HUMOR this is most important. Try to laugh. Remember, this this too shall pass…maybe not for a few years, but it will. We are all struggling with the new normal. It’s ok to laugh about it.
Stay Safe, wear a mask. You are loved by many, try not to get sick.
Namaste,
Dr Karen