As the world is experiencing a huge spike in positive COVID-19 cases, the frustration of having to rearrange our lives to deal with this dangerous pandemic has had a negative effect on many of us in countless ways.
You donāt have to contract the coronavirus to experience the many times serious stresses, inconveniences and anxieties of having to cope with the daily restrictions and warnings that have weighed on us for nearly an entire year.
In addition to COVID-19, weāve also lately been faced with a contentious election season, thousands of jobs lost and many parents taking on the responsibility of teaching their children. The combined stress of those negative catalysts has been difficult to deal with for us all, so if you think you may be experiencing COVID-19 fatigue or perhaps overall crisis fatigue, youāre not alone in that regard and here are some recommendations that may help you.
Do your best to avoid negative coping solutions that seem like quick and easy fixes such as alcohol or drug use, or overspending money. You may find those diversions helpful at the time, but the repercussions of those actions may become costly if not disastrous.
Consistent procedures in your life create familiarity, which can be a huge comfort to you, so develop successful routines such as going to bed at night and getting up in the morning at the same times each day, and setting aside particular hours to work and work out, read or enjoy other recreational activities.
Help yourself out each day by taking a moment or two to think about what youāre grateful for in your life whether that be your family and friends, your good health, or perhaps just a beautiful day. Although weāre all going through a difficult time, doing what we can to accentuate the positive can be a big help in getting through this. Set aside time to check in with family, friends and neighbors to see how theyāre doing and see if thereās anything you can do to help them, and while expressing your concern for others, make sure youāre doing what you can to take care of yourself by eating properly and seeing your health providers as scheduled.
People who believe they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should contact their health care provider immediately. If you are ill with flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath, please call your health center or clinic before coming to your appointment. If you are an Eskenazi Health patient, please call 317.880.7666 before coming to your appointment. Health care professionals are available 24/7 to answer questions on symptoms and direct you to the most appropriate care. It is important to first call before arriving at Eskenazi Health.