Be Kind to Your Mind
We are ten weeks and counting. We have waited in line to buy toilet paper, made masks from tee shirts, washed our hands, and socially distanced ourselves from our families and friends, in hopes of keeping everyone safe. While we cannot be together in person, the time we’ve spent with our families and friends on the phone and online has been invaluable. During these unprecedented times, our health and safety are front and center, and we have been very dedicated to care for one another.
It is important to not only focus on physical health, but mental health as well. May is Mental Health Awareness month, and it is a good reminder to all of us that in order to take care of the people around us, we must also be kind to ourselves and our minds. Be Kind to Your Mind outlines five simple and actionable goals for everyone to consider and implement during these stressful times.
Pause. Breathe. Notice how you feel. In addition to asking yourself how you feel, it may also be helpful to ask yourself “what” you are feeling. It moves the answer from one word to an explanation.
● Take a break from COVID-19 content. We are saturated with information, local and national news, medical experts and much, much more. Give your brain a break.
● Make time to eat, sleep, and exercise. Many people are consumed with the “what if’s.” Try to focus on the “what now’s” and be in the present. Do your best to care for yourself. Remember, when you are on the plane with your young child and the oxygen masks drop down, put it on yourself first and then your child. Taking care of yourself mentally and physically will have a positive ripple effect in your family.
● Reach out and stay connected to people who are important to you: family, friends, and colleagues. It is our relationships to others that give us the emotional support we need in times like this. Telling someone, “Everything is fine and we are great,” is not likely to be truthful, and it definitely won't elicit the conversation and support you need. Be honest about yourself and how you are really feeling during this stressful time.
Behaviors are the true indicators of stress and anxiety. Children may be irritable, have trouble sleeping, and they may appear frustrated or have tantrums. Adults have behavioral changes too. Take notice: sleep patterns may change and irritability may increase. Feelings of being overwhelmed and exhausted can all be indicators of mood issues. Seek help if you are feeling overwhelmed or unsafe. There are hotlines through CDC, local health departments, and community resources.
References
Mhanational.org Cdc.org Childmind.org
Mrs. Joan Glick is the Director of Student Services at Saint. Mark’s Episcopal School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.