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We are dealing with two issues – the virus itself and the emotions it generates. Currently most of our attention is on the virus itself and we have quickly put in place measures to prevent contagion – lockdown, personal protective equipment, sanitizing, physical distancing and so on. However, we are not paying nearly enough attention to the emotional impact of the pandemic, which is extremely concerning.
EVERYONE is having some emotional reaction to the pandemic. Fear, anxiety, stress, anger, irritability, emotional exhaustion and sadness are just some of the reactions – and these are to be expected because the threat is real and we are having to make significant lifestyle changes. This situation is unprecedented; it is actually okay to not be okay. Experiencing these symptoms doesn’t mean you aren’t up to the job, it just means you’re human. You do not need to feel ashamed of your emotions, because these reactions are a normal response to an abnormal situation.
Although the emotions are valid, the reality is that if we do not manage these emotional reactions we can end up with severe mental illness. Already we are seeing higher rates of depression, anxiety, insomnia and complicated grief. More and more people are complaining that they cannot focus, concentrate, problem-solve and/or make decisions. There is long-term risk for even more alcohol abuse, self-medication and long-lasting ‘avoidance’ behaviour. Domestic abuse is on the increase, there is loss of productivity, more burnout and alarmingly the suicide numbers are escalating. Mental health professionals are expecting all of these negative effects to get worse.
The good news, however, is that we can manage emotional reactions in ourselves and in others. We can protect our mental health and we can reduce mental illness. It’s all about education, awareness and implementing effective strategies and techniques. This needs to happen at home and in the workplace, at both an individual and at an organizational level. The more we all talk about this, the better it is for all of us.
There are 7 key elements to consider in order to manage your mental health. They are to:
- Recognise the Emotional Impact
- Manage the Change
- Build Resilience
- Practice Self-Care
- Deal With Personality Differences
- Improve Communication
- Handle Loss
I have a large variety of resources on my website to get you started. To make it easy for you I have created a new “Coping With Coronavirus” page on my website where you can find all these resources in one place.
Please contact me if you want me to help you or your team work through any of them.
Wishing you well.
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