Blog

During the Codid-19 pandemic, I have had the wonderful honor and pleasure to provide support in answering various questions regarding this provincial, national and worldwide crisis. In counselling Calgary, or in other areas in Alberta such as Edmonton, Airdrie, Brooks and Okotoks; there appear to be many questions on how to deal with the current crisis and what to do during and after the crisis ends.   

Let’s take a final look at Part 3 of some Common Covid Questions that have been asked.

7. What is your advice for those struggling during these uncertain times?

One of the roots of this crisis is about a loss of control. There are real legitimate fears we must take seriously, rather than perceived fears that many people sometimes deal with. If someone is struggling in an uncertain time then I would suggest someone considers the following….

1. Admit that I have no control in this current circumstance and it is scary and difficult to deal with.
2. Create a schedule. By creating and following a schedule of your daily routine, you can begin to take back control of what you are responsible for.
3. Create Space (part 1). This is not about social isolation, but about creating a healthy space for just having time for yourself to healthily cope with your daily life. This could include meditation, prayer, listening to some new music, reading a book. Anything that fills you up as a person and makes you feel whole and stable as a person.
4. Create Space (Part 2). Intentionally create connection with other people in your life. This includes your partner (if in a relationship), your children (if you have any), your family and friends. Even if your socially isolated due to health issues or being out of the country, you can still have positive engagement with others over the phone or the multitude of online video platforms available. Yes, this is not the same as 1:1 human contact, however, it’s better than nothing which technologically has not been available in previous generations when worldwide crisis has occurred.
5. Seek a qualified counselling therapist to support your journey from crisis to wholeness and a new life.
6. What resources do you suggest to assist individuals with their mental health?

Alberta Health Services has fantastic and current resources that can help support the education of health crisis such as the one we’re in now.

If you have a counselling therapist or are considering seeing one, check out their web page. Many therapists have fantastic resources and links to other sites on their web pages, including blogs. Therapists don’t just put up stuff because it looks pretty. It’s there to help support and further your emotional and mental well-being.

1. How are you holding up in terms of your mental health?

I have had my personal areas of having to work through fears of the pandemic due to personally being immune compromised. Just because I’m a therapist doesn’t mean I’ve had my challenging days, however, as the old-fashioned saying goes “I’m just practicing what I preach.” I have had to step back and look at my own personal fears and anxiety and remind myself that I have gone through other pandemics and health crisis’s such as Nowrwalk, SARS, Chicken Pox outbreaks, etc…When I look back in my past work experience, I have to remind myself that I have thankfully come out okay (even when I caught chicken pox as an adult). I also have to remind myself that if I am properly using the health care training I have received, such as how to take off infected gloves properly and washing my hands after touching possible infected touch points (i.e. door handles and elevator buttons), then I have more control in dealing with my surrounding environment. I am also a big advocate of mindfulness exercises such as deep breathing that I personally practice and suggest that everyone learn and practice daily.

1. What techniques are you using to help reduce anxiety during the pandemic?

Education is vital in this current pandemic. And I don’t mean watching news or media all day long. The education I’m talking about is learning how to use personal protective equipment (PPE) properly. I am amazed at how I continue to see the mishandling of how gloves and masks are put on and off, not to mention the misuse of hand sanitizer and putting globs of it on hands only increasing dryness of hands, creating cracks in the skin, causing potential increase in catching infection when exposed skin touches an unsafe contaminated area. I’m also amazed how many people still do not know how to properly wash their hands or are not paying attention to touch points where they work or when shopping for groceries. When you are educated in the proper use of pandemic hygiene you can help reduce your personal anxiety. Proper hygiene helps to provide one more thing you can control in your life, rather than unhealthily isolating and living in fear.

The other important area to consider is to be mindful of properly breathing in. When living in fear or dealing with anxiety, we often end up shallow breathing which is not what the body needs to survive a pandemic or even when things are going great. We need to be intentionally doing deep breathing exercises which will help us to be more alert, calm and caring in our daily life, individually and with others.

If you missed the first 6 questions that’s okay. Just CLICK HERE FOR PART 1 or Part 2