Dealing with COVID Stress
Let’s talk COVID stress. This year might be the most demanding and challenging time for our country in a REALLY long time. As healthcare workers, we have been in the thick of COVID for many months now. Even if you are not a front line worker directly taking care of COVID positive patients, it has been mentally and emotionally exhausting for us all. Many healthcare workers are experiencing depression, anxiety, and even PTSD symptoms because of this pandemic. Covid stress is HARD to manage. We hear about it 24/7 and it may keep getting worse as we head into the winter months. Compassion fatigue and burnout are a THING! And they should not be taken lightly. We need to take care of ourselves so that we can better help out patients!
Let’s dive into recognizing the warning signs of COVID burnout and stress:
Feeling irritable or angry
Feeling anxious, tired, overwhelmed
Change in sleep patterns or difficulty concentrating
Feeling sad or even depressed
If you notice these symptoms in yourself or in a friend it might be a good idea to evaluate what’s going on. Talking to a trusted friend or family member is a great place to start! Or you can even confide in a co-worker who can empathize with what you are going through. Therapy is also a great option! Talkspace.com is a quick and easy way to begin therapy sessions virtually and an incredible resource during the pandemic.
Still feeling lost and overwhelmed?
Here are some other ways to enhance your resilience:
Remind yourself that this is an unprecedented time and YOU are playing a role in helping our world get through this pandemic.
Be kind to yourself. Maybe this means treating yourself to Starbucks, a bath, or a long yoga class.
Whatever it is realize we need to give ourselves some grace here and being gentle with ourselves is important in reducing burn out.
When not at work, try not to think about how your work day was. Focus on the things you love! Take time for exercise, reading, listening to podcasts, whatever it may be!
Trying mindfulness and breathing techniques is also helpful! The app CALM is available for this as well as Headspace which provides guided meditation and is free for healthcare workers! You can also buy mindfulness cards on amazon.
If you or someone you know is thinking of harming themselves, the national suicide prevention lifeline is always available (1-800-273-8255) and there is also an online cha through their website.
Mental Health is not something to be taken lightly during this pandemic! We need to take care of ourselves and comfort each other. We will all make it through this together!
Be well.
About the author: Jessica West is a close friend and colleague that is a board certified physician assistant and currently practices in psychiatry. She always provides the best mental health for her patients as well as resources. The pandemic has placed an immense amount of stress and burnout on us all. I was happy to collaborate with her and hear her thoughts on resources and ways to manage the mental health crisis that is currently happening in our country.