BY SANDRA GUY
Health experts say it’s normal to feel sad, anxious, lonely and even depressed while sheltering inside during the pandemic.
Those feelings escalate when someone must self-quarantine. And that’s happening, as many people are being asked to self-quarantine for 14 days after marching and kneeling, side-by-side, to protest police brutality after George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis.
“There’s so much uncertainty. It’s normal and adaptive to be anxious — there’s potential danger,” said Alyssa Rheingold, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, S.C.
Even people staying inside their homes in their own version of quarantine are starting to hit exhaustion, said Rheingold, who directs clinical operations for the university’s National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center.
“If we’re always anxious and keyed up, it can cause more exhaustion on our body,” she said. “That’s normal.”
More people living through the coronavirus pandemic say they feel emotionally drained, struggle to focus, or have lost interest in hobbies or other pursuits they once enjoyed, according to a survey of 1,099 employees conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management.
The survey found that 58 percent say they often worry about the consequences of COVID-19 for their family and friends; 25 percent say their sleep is inadequate to let them feel rested; 44 percent say they feel “used up” by the end of their workday, and 23 percent say they often feel like a failure who has let themselves or their family down.
“COVID-19 is taking a toll on our minds and emotions in a million little ways,” said Society President and CEO Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., in a press release. “Now, more than ever, employers should double down against stigmas and guarantee employees know of the resources, benefits and accommodations [those employers make] available.”
Simple steps — and simplifying our lives — can help, the experts say.
Try to find time to pause and take deep breaths — and not just between frantically checking email.
“Break things down on a smaller basis,” Rheingold said.
Set a daily schedule, if possible, to enhance the feeling of control.
Do things that align with your values, including researching how to help others or educating yourself about social justice initiatives.
“Do things that give you meaning and purpose,” Rheingold said.
Seek ways to keep in touch with friends and family.
But if you need to sit down for a good cry, that’s OK, she said.
“We need to grieve – to acknowledge what we’re feeling,” she said.
Then get back to a routine.
“It’s comforting,” Rheingold said. “You know what to expect. There is certainty in routine.”
A key way to stay resilient is to get plenty of sleep and exercise and eat healthy foods, Rheingold said.
“Focus on the basics,” she said.