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Mental Health

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I was paying attention to the US election news this week and didn’t really follow the pandemic news. Now I check the numbers and — whoa! What happened??!?

Families/Kids Mental Health Socializing Travel

Q: Does this mean more lockdowns? To be honest, I’m kinda done. A: Cases are surging, we have rough weeks ahead, and everyone’s collective will to combat the pandemic has eroded. Stay focused on the things you can do in the short term, and stay realistic about this new surge. First, the numbers: If you Read more…

How do I break it to my mother-in-law that we’re not coming to Christmas dinner? šŸ˜¬šŸ˜¬šŸ˜¬

Families/Kids Mental Health Socializing Travel

A: Hereā€™s the bottom line: you are not in control of other peopleā€™s thoughts, feelings, or actions. You can only control your own thoughts, feelings, and actions. And you do not have to sacrifice your comfort to make someone else happy. Be firm, be brief, focus on your own decisions rather than hers, and don’t Read more…

Iā€™m feeling anxiousā€¦ and bored at the same time. Is this normal? And is there a solution?

Mental Health

A: Welcome to the paradoxical feeling of acedia ā€“ an old word used to describe that very now feeling of apathetic restlessness. Good news: There are evidence-based ways to fight back. Background: Early Christian monks called acedia the ā€œnoonday demonā€ ā€“ the tough feelings you feel where you are alone, feeling listless and wonder why Read more…

Sunday Funnies!

Mental Health

Your daily dose of laughter can help decrease stress, relax your body, and increase endorphins (happy chemicals!). We hope you enjoy this little dose of Sunday laughter. If it helps, why not schedule some time for laughter every day (a favorite show, podcast, cartoons, laughs with friends, or even laughter yoga)? Share your favorite daily Read more…

What has been the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare workers? What can I do to help?

Mental Health Social and Racial Justice Staying Safe

A: People who work in healthcare are at risk for getting COVID-19 on the job and are also under tremendous stress from the demands of dealing with the pandemic. In the US, over 173,000 healthcare workers have contracted COVID-19 and at least 742 have died. Our doctors, nurses, technicians, therapists, and support staff face increasing Read more…

Are you concerned about your kids spending too much time on screens?

Families/Kids Mental Health School

Dear Pandemic is thrilled to introduce this weekā€™s Nerdy Guest, Dr. Pamela Hurst-Della Pietra. She is President and founder of Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development. Using her medical degree, non-profit experience, philanthropic resources, and a long-standing interest in media and children, Dr. Hurst-Della Pietra has become one of the fieldā€™s Read more…

Stress related to the pandemic has accelerated my substance use. How can I find the support I need?

Mental Health

A: As weā€™ve discussed in past posts, the pandemic and other stressful current events have taken a toll on many peopleā€™s mental health. For some folks, this can exacerbate substance use issues. It can be really scary to feel like you donā€™t have control over your substance use, but there are places you can find Read more…

I am struggling with anxiety and maybe depression during this pandemic and nothing I have tried, from journaling to gratitude journaling, has worked.

Mental Health

Q: I think I need a therapist. Where do I start? A: We will walk you through it. Before we do, we want to acknowledge your bravery. Many of us are going through this and we thank you for asking openly and honestly about how to find help. In fact, approximately 40% of Americans report Read more…

Itā€™s the first day of virtual school and Iā€™m already losing my mind. How am I going to survive this?

Families/Kids Mental Health School

A: Parents, we see you. Parenting in a pandemic is hard. Itā€™s really, really hard. Many parents are being tasked with managing virtual learning, often involving age-inappropriate expectations for our young children to spend hours (and hours) seated/on Zoom calls. All around us, parents–especially moms–are taking leaves of absence from their careers in order to Read more…

How can I support my elderly family member as the pandemic continues?

Families/Kids Mental Health

A: Continue to ask your family member what his/her/their wishes are and how you can support; continue to engage socially through virtual means; encourage hobbies/activities/interests; and provide support to caregivers. We just love this cartoon that helps depict this. Full view as well as a printable guide available here. Stay safe. Stay sane. And letā€™s Read more…

I live alone. What things should I think about to keep on keeping on during this pandemic?

Mental Health

A: Whether youā€™re a student living in a studio apartment downtown or retired and living alone in the community, this pandemic has been HARD. Balancing infection control risks with social connection and extreme levels of uncertainty can be especially stressful when living alone. Three common areas of concern among individuals who live alone include maintaining Read more…