Coping with stress of social distancing

By Garrett Estrada

For those stuck at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, the stress of social distancing and self isolating can feel like its own battle at times. For people who suffer from mental health disorders, it can feel like a war.

But according to OptumCare’s Senior Medical Director John Rhodes, it’s a war that can be won, one day at a time.

“The people suffering from depression and anxiety are the silent victims of this pandemic,” Rhodes said.

The long-term implications of isolation mixed with the 24/7 news coverage of the virus can negatively impact the physical and emotional sides of the health of those trying to do their part by staying put. That’s why Rhodes says to work on healthy habits each day to limit stress from the pandemic.

“It is important to prioritize  doing your best to eat healthy meals, to maintain a regular sleep schedule and to exercise, as possible, daily to increase endorphins,” Rhodes said. 

The senior medical director warned against turning to alcohol or drugs as ways to cope with the stresses of staying at home, as they can actually make symptoms of depression and anxiety worse. Instead, he recommends finding safe ways to communicate with people such as using social media to stay in touch with friends and family, as that social connection is key in fighting off the doldrums of staying in. 

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s website recommends sharing accurate information about COVID-19 with others as another way to feel less stress and make connections. But there can be downsides to spending too much time online, especially if it is constantly consuming the latest news about the virus.

“It’s good to be informed but not over informed,” Rhodes said. 

Instead of waking up and immediately looking to the headlines to see the latest information, Rhodes finds it can be much more healthy to start the day with a “moment of gratitude.” 

“It takes more effort to see the good,” Rhodes said. 

It’s a morning ritual that he practices himself to start the day off in the right frame of mind in stressful times. At the end of each day, Rhodes recommends making a list of three positive things that happened during the day, to once again make the effort to see the good. For his most recent list he had good medical news a family member had received that day, as well as the comfort of coming home to a good meal and spending quality time with his child.

Additional coping methods can be found on the CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety. And for anyone who is feeling anxious about the coronavirus and would like to be connected to a counselor, Optum has a free emotional support hotline at 866-342-6892.