Health break: Caring for your mental health in the face of COVID-19

New reports about COVID-19 are being broadcast from our screens and radios every day, and the constant barrage of news can cause anxiety and stress. Being aware of this anxiety, and taking steps to manage it, can benefit your mental health and well-being.

Here are some tips to help you manage anxiety and maintain a healthy outlook during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Get the facts. As you follow reports about coronavirus, make sure you trust your news sources. Verify information you hear from family, friends or social media. You can also find useful, reputable information from local or state public health agencies and from your family physician.

Take breaks from the news. Even though it’s important to stay informed, it’s also critical to take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about the pandemic constantly can be upsetting. Set an intentional time limit to watch the news and then turn it off. Don’t leave it on all day in the background.

Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch, get enough sleep, get outside for fresh air and eat healthy, well-balanced meals.

Keep structure. Routine can help you feel healthy and productive. Set regular sleep and wake-up times, get dressed, maintain regular hygiene routines, and set times for homework, meals, exercise and social interactions online or by phone.

Make time to unwind. During times of isolation in your home, make sure to do activities you enjoy. Make time to read, watch a movie, listen to music, practice an instrument, do some gardening, play with your pet or work on a craft project.

Stay connected with others. Just because we have to maintain physical distances from others because of the virus, that doesn’t mean we have to lose touch with friends and family. Thanks to technology, there are plenty of ways we can stay connected and share with others: through social media, phone calls, texts and video chats. One local family who’s spread across the country has a standing video chat date to prepare and eat a meal “together.”

We are all going through the same experience. Sharing thoughts and feelings can relieve stress, foster a sense of community and belonging, and even make us feel better physically.

Don’t be too hard on yourself. Be compassionate with yourself and with others. There’s a lot that’s out of our control right now, and that can be stressful for many of us. Moments of feeling overwhelmed often come with thoughts such as “I can’t do this” or “This is too hard.” How we talk to ourselves during these challenging times can provide a powerful buffer to difficult circumstances. We can’t be our best selves all the time — so give yourself, and others, a break.

Seek help if you need it. If you feel an overwhelming nervousness, a lingering sadness, or other strong reactions that are getting in the way of your daily activities and relationships, consult with a trained and experienced mental health professional. Psychologists and other mental health providers help people deal with extreme stress and find constructive ways to manage adversity.

If you suspect that a loved one needs help, encourage them to call their doctor or go directly to the emergency department of their local hospital.

Additional resources include:

• Centre County Crisis Line is available 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week at 800-643-5432
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8285

Mount Nittany Health is committed to the health, safety and well-being of its patients, staff and community. We are prepared for potential infectious disease outbreaks, whether its measles, flu or new viruses like coronavirus as part of our commitment to prevent disease and ensure a healthy community for all. We rigorously follow the guidance from the CDC and Pennsylvania Department of Health for screening and testing of patients for COVID-19; ensuring all levels of protection for our patients, staff and community.

As the situation continues to evolve, we have taken steps to prepare and protect our community, including a dedicated COVID-19 wing, limiting visitors in our facilities at Mount Nittany Health, except for special circumstances, screenings, test collection sites, masking requirements, and rescheduling elective and non-essential services. We continue to evaluate and will announce further measures as needed with the focus on our community’s health and wellbeing.

Please visit mountnittany.org/coronavirus for more information.