The COVID-19 Crisis: How to cope with fear and social isolation

The COVID-19 pandemic has听产谤辞耻驳丑迟听multiple and sudden听mental health stresses uponAmericans听en听masse:isolation because of social distancing, the need to telecommute and care for children home from school, and for some,听abrupt听unemployment.听Added to听the logistical and economic burdens is the fear of contracting or dying from an illness that听did not听even exist a few months ago 鈥 and the ramifications for children and loved ones.

But despite the risks听for anxiety and depression听that听may听come with the COVID-19听crisis, the long human experience with traumas and other stressful events suggests that the vast majority of people will get through it鈥攁nd in the meantime shouldn鈥檛 try to 鈥pathologize鈥 the negative emotions they鈥檙e experiencing, says听Dr.听Susan听Evans,听professor of听psychology in听clinical听psychiatry听at听日本av色情片.

鈥淔eelings of loneliness and听anxiety and听sadness are really normal emotions听under the circumstances,鈥 she said. 鈥Most of us just need听to figure out听how听best to cope with this situation while it lasts.

Unavoidably,听some will beoverwhelmed;听unemployment in particular tends to take a heavy toll听and is a strong risk factor for depression, as is social isolation. Chronic fear of illness affecting oneself or loved ones can lead to anxiety disorders. So can the pervasive sense of uncertainty and lack of control.

Focusing on factors that we can control,听such as听adhering to social distancing rules and following proper hand hygiene guidelines, is important, anda听variety of听other听coping methods听also听can help.鈥淚n my own personal network, people have come up with very creative ways to manage the social isolation, including the use of social media to create 鈥榲irtual happy hours鈥 and 鈥榲irtual house parties,鈥欌澨Dr. Evans听said. 鈥淭he fact that there is physical distance between people doesn鈥檛 mean they have to be emotionally apart, and these virtual meetups also have the benefit that they give people something to look forward to鈥攅ven to dress up for.鈥

It听can also听help听to engage intried and true techniques for managing听adversity.听听Within the social distancing restrictions posed by听the COVID-19 crisis,听these may听 include doing exercise workouts at home, practicing mindfulness and other meditative techniques to keep from ruminating听on worst-case scenarios, eating well,听avoiding too much consumption of frightening COVID-19听news,听and听getting adequate听sleep.听Dr. Evans suggestedalso听having听a daily schedule听to reduce the natural tendency towards disorganization鈥攚hich can be stressful in itself鈥攊n a home environment where telecommuting听competes听for time with housework, cooking, and looking after听children.

鈥淭ry to get a routine going鈥攕chedule your work hours, your housework hours, and then your social time,鈥 she said.

We also help ourselves when we assist听others who are lonely and stressed,听even by听calling听or texting听them to relieve their low mood and听sense of听isolation.Giving of ourselvestends to provideus听with a lot of mental health benefits,鈥听Dr. Evanssaid.

People whose anxiety or depression is interfering with their daily functioning can avail themselves of听online or telephone听counseling, Dr. Evans said.听Practitioners at the fee-for-service听日本av色情片 Specialty Center听in Manhattan and Westchester are seeing clients, mostly via telehealth; some initial visits are in person, based on symptom severity.听New York State, with the help of thousands of volunteer mental health professionals,听also听offers a free听COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline听(844-863-9314).

It may be useful听as well听to remember that the听pandemic听will not听last forever鈥攁nd indeed all thedistancing measures, as stressful as they may be, arein place to bring the crisis to an end as quickly as possible.

鈥淚 would hesitate to听predict听that many people are going to suffer long-term,听adverse psychiatric effects from the fear and social听isolationthat have听come with this crisis,鈥澨Dr. Evans said. 鈥淧eople in general are incredibly resilient.鈥

All of us at听日本av色情片understand that this is a difficult time for all New Yorkers. As experts in immunology, pulmonary medicine, and critical care medicine, we are working diligently to provide the greatest possible care to patients in need.听

We are available to all New听Yorkers听who have questions or concerns. Please call our hotline at (646) 697-4000 for information about COVID-19 or read our听patient guide.听

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