One year since Covid
COVID-19 Impact
It is now January 24, 2021 ... COVID-19 began to change the world when it was first discovered in Wuhan China, on the 5th of January 2020.
In one year the world has recorded ...
- 99 million cases worldwide and counting
- 2.13 million deaths
Those who survived, are likely experiencing residual physical and mental health issues. While Hypnotherapy has helped me to overcome many of the mental health impacts, such as stress and anxiety, a return to prior physical health status is unlikely ... the goal now is to do the very best with the cards dealt, and move on.
COVID-19 presents significant personal challenges that can be stressful, overwhelming, and cause strong emotions and reactions.
Social distancing and mask-wearing reduce the spread of COVID-19 but often make us feel isolated, fearful, and lonely. This leads to increased stress and anxiety and reduced health status and weak immune responses to the virus.
Healthy Ways to Cope
- Take care of your physical and mental needs - be aware of how you are feeling
- Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate - induces relaxation and calm
- Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals - ensures the body is getting the nutrition it needs
- Exercise regularly - muscles need to be used
- Get plenty of sleep - at least 8 hours per day is a good target
- Avoid excessive alcohol, tobacco, and substance use - none of these are helpful
- Continue with routine health interventions - listen to your healthcare provider.
- Get vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine when available - the vaccine is safe!
Helping Others Cope
Take care of yourself so you are better equipped to take care of friends, family, or loved ones, who may turn to you in their time of need. During extended periods of social distancing, it is especially important to break connections with your friends and family. Helping others cope with stress through phone calls or video chats can help you and your loved ones feel less lonely or isolated.
Mental Health Crisis
If you are struggling to cope, there are ways to get help.
Call your healthcare provider, if stress gets in the way of your daily activities for several days in a row. If you are experiencing despair or having thoughts of suicide, help is available. https://www.cdc.gov/injury/features/be-there-prevent-suicide...
This article may be very helpful ... https://www.bethe1to.com/bethe1to-steps-evidence/
Know the suicide warning signs including:
- Feeling like a burden
- Being isolated
- Increased anxiety
- Feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
- Increased substance use
- Looking for a way to access lethal means
- Increased anger or rage
- Extreme mood swings
- Expressing hopelessness
- Sleeping too little or too much
- Talking or posting about wanting to die
- Making plans for suicide
Seek help ...
Moving on
It is not hopeless, there is always a path to something better ... therapy is available to overcome issues such as anxiety, stress, fear, and negativity.
Set your top priority on your mental health and take action to obtain the help you need.
Therapies such as hypnotherapy and psychotherapy can make a big difference and help guide you out of the darkness. There is no shame in asking for help ...
Wishing you all the very best future outcomes ... move on, and make the very best of your personal situation!
Allan
Recent Comments
23
Thank you Allan for sharing your experience of this dreadful disease that has decimated more than 400,000 Americans with the WA community.
I pray for your complete and total recovery.
I do agree with Jeannine about the strategies used in dealing with this making it worse instead of better
Sorry you're going through so much, Allan, but honestly of the 128 people I know (literally!) who have gone through Covid, including me, only two still have any issues. My case of Covid was milder than a typical cold. Never lost sense of smell, never lost sense of taste, had a mild fever of 99.0, had a sore throat for about an hour, and I was tired for a week.
I'm living a totally normal life, just as I did pre-Covid, in a community that is pretty much open. I feel so sorry for people who are still locked down, especially since studies conducted by California, Minnesota and NYC showed that the most likely place to catch Covid was at home (~74% of the cases started that way), which makes closing restaurants (source of 1.4% of the cases) seem really foolish.
Hope you feel 100% in body, soul and spirit soon!
JeannineC ... I am glad that your symptoms were mild. However, those with mild symptoms are the lucky ones. I don't agree with your assumptions about staying at home ... it simply makes good sense to stay away from those infected! Everyone who is part of your personal "bubble" must be 100% compliant (masks, distancing, etc.) for the cycle to be broken ... it is when people break the public health protocols that infections occur in the home! New Zealand and Australia are good examples where the infection rates are almost zero due to good public health policies ... including lockdowns!
I find it interesting that living in a place which has been more open has resulted in less severe cases than those place under stricter lockdowns. Stay home. Stay away from everyone forever. I choose to live my life. I choose to visit with friends. I choose to eat in restaurants. I choose to celebrate Christmas and New Year's and Valentine's Day with family and friends and people I care about. I guess I'm just not as scared as everyone else; I wasn't raised to live in fear like that.
You also haven't talked at all about the increase in suicides, spouse abuse, child abuse, pet abuse, drug abuse and more. What do you propose as a balance to that? I know that just among veterans, the suicide rate is up 25% YOY. So which is worse?
The "cure" can't be worse than the disease.
See more comments
Thank you Allan,
It's been a year like none other, seeing the statistics are stark reminders, but like you mentioned, the recovered are in fact long term impacted,
I really liked your back to basics and might simply print it off for the guys whom I work with, I work in a male Prison and the effect of Covid/lockdown in the prison, mental health and inability to treat has been truly bloody awful.
My job has changed beyond recognition and are doubtful the Prison will run a normal regime for several years.
I am getting my 1st vaccine on Wednesday morning with many of the other front line workers, for that I am grateful.
The uncertainty of where this will all end is killing.
Thank you for the post Allan
Cordelia ... glad you found it helpful, the vaccine should help to provide some relief from the day-to-day stress of not knowing if you will be infected ... continue to be cautious, however, as we still know very little about this beast! I can only imagine the anxiety levels in prison ... an outbreak in such close quarters spreads like wildfire. Good luck and stay safe!