By Amber Michelle

It’s hard to believe that as recently as February we were all stressed out from running around being constantly “busy”. We all wore our busyness as a badge of honor.  A few months later as the onset of Covid-19 has upended our lives we’re all stressed for the opposite reason. Our busy lives have gone from being on the run to sheltering in place, a somewhat terrifying euphemism for stay home.  Turns out that staying home to avoid contracting a potentially lethal virus is taking a mental health toll on all of us. So how do we stay sane in these trying times? CHHOP spoke to two experts who gave us a few pointers on how to keep your mood up and your stress levels down.

“Our human response is to be social,” points out Kathie Talbot, a former clinical social worker and current Peekskill City Council member, “that’s been ripped away from us.” She suggests reaching out to your community of friends and family to find new ways to be social from a distance while also making a few small adjustments to your life.

Break Up Your Routine

Talbot notes that we all have a tendency to do the same thing every day. By doing the same thing every day you can get into a rut which may lead to depression. She suggests changing your routine a bit. “Change the times that you do things, have something different for breakfast, push to take a walk, do some gardening, or look for a new hobby.”

Be Social from a Distance

Keep active and stay connected, advises Talbot.  Have people you can talk to.  “Have a buddy so that you can look in on each other,” she says. “Call each other every day to check in. Also, have talk groups, or a book club online or attend a Zoom concert, anything that keeps you in contact with others.”

Be of Service

Nothing lifts your mood like doing something for someone else. Talbot suggests making reusable masks for people if that is something that you can do, or make a meal and take it to someone who can’t get out of the house. “Find a way to shift your focus to others,” she recommends.

Music and Laughter

Laughter is the best medicine. Talbot recommends watching a funny movie or television show that will have you laughing out loud. She also advocates listening to music. “When you listen to upbeat or calming music it can positively lift your mood.”

Write

Keeping a journal is a good way to express your feelings, notes Talbot. She suggests that you write about what you are experiencing now and make it your own story. “The next generation will appreciate your insights from this historic event we are all going through,” she says.

If you need something really simple that you can do while you’re working from home, Stephanie Dalfonzo, a Connecticut-based integrative hypnotist, coach, speaker and author of Goodbye Anxiety, Hello Freedom , offers a few very simple stress-busters that can be done anytime. “These are simple shifts that create lasting change,” she notes.

Yawn

 Yes, a yawn, whether it happens on its own, or you’re faking it, “stimulates your rest, digest and relax system,” says Dalfonzo. And that simple yawn will reduce your stress level.


Breathe

You’ve all heard it before, but when stressed you tend to hold your breath. Dalfonzo offers a reminder, “Stop and focus on the in and out of your breath.” Think, “I’m breathing in, I’m breathing out.” You’ll feel yourself calming down with each breath.


Have Gratitude

According to Dalfonzo when you say words of gratitude — especially out loud —  it actually produces a physical effect. “When you feel gratitude in the midst of challenging times, it will stimulate serotonin and dopamine in your body, which are the happy hormones that make you feel good.”

Smile

You might want to have a mirror in front of you for this one. Dalfonzo notes that like feeling gratitude, smiling — even a  pretend smile — will release endorphins, serotonin and dopamine. All feel good hormones that will lift your mood.

Add in some of these stress reducing techniques with plenty of sleep, good food and exercise and they may help you to feel better as we move through these tough times. If you are still feeling blue after a few days and you’ve tried some of these easy stress busters, you may want to consider reaching out to a mental health professional for assistance. Call OMH Emotional Support Helpline: 1-844-863-9314.  The Emotional Support Helpline provides free and confidential support, helping callers experiencing increased anxiety due to the coronavirus emergency. The Helpline is staffed by volunteers, including mental health professionals, who have received training in crisis counseling.