More than a month after Hoosiers began hunkering down to limit the spread of COVID-19, the stay-at-home order has changed the routine for families working and going to school without leaving the house.
But mental health experts say sticking to that new routine, or following the old one, can help manage anxiety from the coronavirus pandemic — especially for children.
“Every day can’t be pajama day,” said Nathan Worster, a therapist at Valley Oaks Health. “It’s just like we’re telling adults: Get up, get your day started on your normal routine.”
The disruption to normal activities, prolonged isolation from social groups and financial problems are having a toll on people’s mental health during the pandemic.
“And I think ultimately the biggest part for a lot of individuals is just the unknown, of how is this going to turn out?” Worster said.
Managing how you consume information from credible sources, to exercising and making time to unwind are good strategies for coping with the changes, experts say.
Valley Oaks is presenting a series of webinars this month on dealing with COVID-19 related anxiety. May is Mental Health Month. The sessions will offer advice on practicing good self-care, helping children and teens gain a sense of control and helping older adults stay connected to loved ones.
Worster said it’s important for children to know that parents share some of the same concerns about the virus, and for parents to explain the steps they’re taking to keep the family safe.
“I think children like to see that parents are going out of their way to protect them and if we have those conversations with our children about social distancing, wearing masks, not touching our face, those are just other ways that our children are able to see that we’re protecting them and supporting them,” he said.
For aging adults navigating the learning curve for videoconferencing and other virtual ways to check in with family, educating them on the tools can help keep seniors in touch with loved ones.
“I think for a lot of people it’s hard to all of a sudden have to pick up and learn new ways of communicating, especially when maybe they’ve been communicating with loved ones the same way for years,” Worster said.
For more information about the webinars, visit www.facebook.com/ValleyOaksHealth.
