Isolate but don’t Disconnect
By: Stacy Spahle
Date: 09 / 04 / 2020
Date: 09 / 04 / 2020
As the COVID 19 Crisis lingers, more states and municipalities extend shelter in place restrictions and lock downs spread, many of us working remotely and isolated at home will begin to feel increasingly disconnected. Long-term social distancing and self-quarantines will begin to have negative effects on our mental and physical health. Therefore, it is important that while you continue remain isolated to avoid being infected, we can’t disconnect from your support systems.
CEO and founder of ActionCOACH Brad Sugars offers some common sense tips to stay connected in light of losing access to some of your normal routine and favorite leisure activities. You can’t go to the movies, or visit your favorite pub or even go over to friends or your family’s homes, but you can still keep connected.
Keep in mind that extended isolation does bring on depression and other physical alignments flare up. “People who are more socially connected show less inflammation, conversely people who are more isolated and lonely show increased chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation has been implicated in a variety of chronic diseases,” said Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Brigham Young University. (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/18/coronavirus-isolation-social-recession-physical-mental-health)
https://www.facebook.com/BradleySugars/videos/514251735929833/
Experts say that digital connections don’t fill the need for face-to-face interactions, but it helps. “But I do think you can get part of the way there by engaging with others digitally. I think the richer the format, probably the better – so a phone call is better than a text, a video conference is probably better than a phone call” said Khullar. (Gabbatt, 2020)
The CDC offers tips on their website include the ones Brad outlines and others.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html
The Mayo Clinic goes in depth to help you cope with the stress brought on by continuing isolation.
Reduce stress triggers: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/mental-health-covid-19/art-20482731 The information which follows come directly for the link provided.
Positive and proactive self-care is as important as what you do for others. Put your self in the best frame of mind to get through this crisis stronger than you did when this all started. Social distancing and isolation are helping save lives and reducing the spread of the COVID 19 virus. But we can’t lose sight that as social animals, we all need to stay connected.