How to keep your sanity when you feel like the world is going crazy

[Karlston]

How to keep your sanity when you feel like the world is going crazy

Your mental health is just as important as your physical health right now.

Enlarge / We here at the Ars Orbiting HQ are used to working from home, but even so our feline and canine coworkers are perhaps the only ones not feeling socially distanced these days.

Getty / Aurich Lawson

50 with 35 posters participating, including story author

Hi there. How are you feeling today?

 

It's a loaded question right now. Many of us are having extraordinary feelings in response to extraordinary times. Hundreds of millions of people here in the United States and around the world are doing their best to help contain the spread of novel coronavirus disease COVID-19 by following World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control guidelines and, bluntly, staying the heck away from other people.

 

Even for a born introvert like yours truly, the era of prolonged, enforced social distancing is hard. Folks are either stuck at home alone, stuck at home with their families, or still having to go out into the world every day to work—either because their work is vital or their employers are being stubborn—and all the while, we're being buffeted by government warnings and endless waves of frightening news.

 

In short: right now, we're all exchanging some measure of our mental health in order to preserve our own and others' physical health, and that has limits. We're all in this together, for several weeks and months, if not longer, and basically, we need to avoid driving ourselves and each other crazy if we're going to get through it.

 

That, of course, is easier said than done. To that end, we called up mental health experts to ask what, realistically, we should all be doing to help ourselves and others.

Your feelings are OK. Be gentle.

Emotions really are all over the map. Friends, acquaintances, and strangers report feeling twitchy, anxious, or worried. Almost everyone I posed the question to this week—how do you feel?—responded with some variation of tired or exhausted. "Constant low-grade anxiety," more than one friend replied. Many, many folks answered that they're having trouble focusing on anything, even when it's important (that also goes for some of us here at Ars) and that they feel useless, angry, resigned, or despairing. Others, though, say they feel optimistic that the problems, now identified, can be solved.

 

Almost anything you're feeling right now, including anxiety, is "a normal response," Dr. Lauren Hallion, assistant professor of psychology at the University of Pittsburgh, told Ars. Hallion, whose background includes studying anxiety and worry, emphasized that the best way to handle it is by "being gentle with yourself and with other people for feeling that way."

 

She added:

All these emotions are a normal reaction. This is not a normal situation. We're having to deal with a lot, and a lot of stress, and people are a lot of times going to have strong and maybe hard feelings, and they may be all over the map. And it's OK that you feel that way.

 

We're all going through some very difficult feelings at the moment, and those feelings are going to change rapidly. One moment, we may feel great, and another moment, we may find ourselves in tears. Just be as understanding and as generous as we can with ourselves and with other people.

The key to managing it is acceptance, she said. "And by acceptance, I don't mean that 'it's OK.'" Because, she pointed out, many things are scary, and not at all OK. "I mean that [anxiety] is a normal response."

Acceptance

One way of mitigating anxiety is to imagine and accept realistic negative outcomes, said Dr. Bradley Olson, a licensed clinical psychologist practicing at the Arlington Center in Chicago.

 

"If I can consider and accept the worst possible outcome, I'll freak out less about what's going on," Olson suggested. Mapping out the series of, "All right, then what?" decisions that would follow a negative outcome can help you regain a sense of control.

 

"The [scenarios] we make up in our head rarely ever happen—'oh, we're all gonna die!' That's not going to happen," he went on. But bad things can happen, and might, and outlining those can help.

 

The sky is not literally falling—but things are pretty grim. People are getting sick, and millions of others are losing work hours or jobs, and the money concerns that flow from there are realistic. So rather than contemplate the end of the world, Olson suggested, think about the literal, concrete next steps you would take if you did receive the news you're afraid of.

 

"If I won't be able to work for two months, what could happen? OK, I won't be able to afford my house. We'll lose the house. OK, that will really suck. I don't want to do that. But could you live with it?" Olson said.

 

Whatever your personal worst-case scenario is... imagine what, specifically, you would do about it if it happened. That makes it less of a fear and more of an actual plan.

Enlarge / This is Guybrush. This photo is here for the sole purpose of being soothing. If you have a cat or a dog nearby to pet, experts recommend: go give some ear scritches.

Take control

Anxiety comes, in many ways, from a loss of control, and most of us are probably deeply feeling that lack right now. Unless you are a sitting member of government (in which case, thanks for reading), you can't actually do anything tangible about the state or federal response to this crisis. But that doesn't mean you can't do anything; participation just looks a little different at the individual level.

Be a helper!

Compassion and good works, of course, help others. But they help you, too, by giving you something you can control.

 

Hallion lives in Pittsburgh, she told Ars. "I actually live in Mr. Rogers' neighborhood," she admitted with a chuckle. "And his famous quote, you know, is 'Look for the helpers.' But I want to flip that and I want us to be a helper. Try to find ways to help other people and to reach out—to be one of the people who can help those who are in greater need."

 

Hallion had concrete suggestions for ways to help: "If you can, run errands for elderly neighbors or people in your community who need the help. If you can think of ways to do outreach to people who need it, to get to folks who are alone. Plug in people who are willing to dedicate their spare time to have a constructive project that is actually also helping people. I can't think of a better solution for stress isolation for anybody." She added that children who want to help could be writing cards and making phone calls (or video calls) to elderly family members, but also sending cards to nursing homes to reach older folks who are at risk, alone, and scared.

 

"Opportunities for reaching out can help take us out of our own heads and out of our own worried spirals and help put our attention elsewhere and help us feel like we're doing a good thing, because we are," she added.

 

Many communities are using tools like Nextdoor, Facebook groups, email listservs, and even good old-fashioned phone trees to connect neighbors who can help to neighbors who need help. Some even have more custom solutions connecting hundreds of families. If your building, neighborhood, or town isn't organized yet, consider becoming the organizer.

 

There are some other key ways to contribute to communal well-being if you can. For those who are healthy and physically able, the US Surgeon General is all but begging for more blood donors to step up, as supplies have crashed at the same time as hospitalizations are expected to increase.

 

And if you have any to spare, money is always a welcome help. Food pantries need extra cash donations right now, while groceries are hard to come by, schools are closed, and millions of workers, especially at the low end of the wage scale, are facing layoffs and reductions in hours. Small local businesses, too, will be reaching out to loyal customers for support.

Your body and your feelings

Your mind and your body are not separate and never have been. That means stress and anxiety can give you physical symptoms—but on the flip side, it also means you can do an end-run around your brain by changing what you're doing with your body.

Go for a walk. Right now. We’ll wait.

It is officially spring in the United States, and in many parts of the country the weather is gorgeous. If you are physically able and not under active quarantine, one of the best things you can do for your physical and mental health both is to get outside and go for a walk every day the weather allows.

 

Folks who already have running, jogging, or cycling routines outdoors can of course keep on keeping on. But even if you have an indoor workout routine going for you, getting outside and getting moving—no matter how slowly—is incredibly important for everyone right now, perhaps especially those of us who haven't typically done so before.

 

"Social distancing doesn't mean, 'stay in your 10 by 10 bedroom forever,' or your apartment, condo, or home," Olson said. "We're not going into gathering spaces, like stores and bars and restaurants. But now is the perfect time, if people have more time available, for them to step out."

 

"Exercise is probably the best behavioral intervention there is for anxiety or depression," he added, suggesting everyone get out for an hour or so if they can. "Fresh air, oxygen, exercise—even if just moderately paced—is helpful to our bodies in terms of calming that physiological response that happens with anxiety."

 

"Taking a regular walk is essential," Hallion stressed, both for those feeling cramped in close quarters and people living on their own. "Get out, get fresh air, get exercise every day." Keep at least six feet away from the neighbors when you pass them, "but if you're not fully under quarantine, and you're social distancing, absolutely go for walks if you can."

Deep breathing works

You know how your mom always told you to take a deep breath? She was right: it works. But deep breathing is something to practice before you're well and truly panicked.

 

There are untold numbers of apps, websites, and YouTube videos that can guide you through deep breathing exercises. The trick is to find something you can stick to, and to do it regularly—especially when you're feeling fine.

 

"Breathing exercises take practice, and they take more practice than people think," Olson said. "Practice deep breathing exercises throughout the day when you're not anxious, because that's when you're learning how to calm somebody."

 

He suggested a four-times-per-day routine: "Do it in the morning, do it at lunch, do it at dinner time, and do it before you go to bed." The routine he suggested is all sets of ten:

• Inhale slowly over the count of 10
• Hold for the count of 10
• Release slowly for the count of 10
• Hold for the count of 10
• Repeat 10 times

"Oh, that's too much work," he said many people end up saying. "But that's what deep breathing exercises are. Not just practicing it when you're anxious and need to do something."

 

Meditation, prayer, and visualization exercises can all have the same effect of calming senses and thoughts, he added. Many local yoga studios, gyms, and fitness centers in your area are probably now offering online classes to follow along with at home, and several wellness apps are offering free, reduced cost, or extended trial services to folks who may need a little help getting moving and getting out of their own heads at home.

 

Routines and boundaries

If you've ever been unemployed for longer than a week or so, you probably know from experience how easy it is to become unmoored from the world when you don't have a sense of routine anchoring you. Everyone, working or not, needs to try to build a sustainable routine for themselves right now. Hard boundaries for yourself and others around you are key to getting through a prolonged disruptive period such as this one.

 

Routine and expectation are critical not only to people who live alone and feel isolated right now, but also for those of us whose children are crawling the walls while we're trying to complete our own jobs, manage our own stress, and somehow keep them from going feral all at the same time.

For yourself

Pick a schedule and stick to it. "Once you've had a chance to take in the new normal, it's time to put a rigorous structure in place where there is a daily routine," Hallion said. "Getting up at the same time, going to bed at the same time, eating regular meals, keeping those meals healthy" are all key. Drink your water and eat your fruits and vegetables; your brain and body both need them.

 

And while certainly nobody will begrudge you for stress-eating the occasional pint of Ben and Jerry's (Chocolate Shake It is my new favorite flavor) or bag of chips right now, don't let yourself make a habit of it. Moderation is always important, and now perhaps more than ever.

 

"Sleep works," Olson said. "I've got to make sure I get some sleep just like I've got to make sure I'm eating." Also, take it easy with the stimulants. A cup of coffee is great for getting going in the morning, but if you're looking at your second or third pot of the day, all that caffeine is only making you more anxious, not less.

 

"When you're home feeling isolated, I think there's a risk for people making bad choices because they're bored and want stimulation," he added. "Drinking too much coffee, drinking too much booze, smoking cigarettes—these are all sorts of options that really come out of intolerance for boredom."

For your family

All K-12 schools in 39 states have closed, as well as several districts in other states and many private schools as well. All told, more than 42 million students—about three-quarters of all American schoolchildren—and their families are affected so far.

 

Kids, especially younger kids, notoriously thrive on routine. You don't have to follow an incredibly ambitious and detailed homeschooling schedule, especially if you're also trying to work full-time around them, but you need to keep them anchored with regular bedtimes, wake-up times, and mealtimes. You also need to build time into the day for everyone to get some space from each other, even if literal square footage is at a premium.

 

"I want to have designated quiet time, if I've got kids," Olson said. Set an alarm. If you have a spouse or partner at home, trade off. "Those times I probably need to put on earbuds or headphones, listen to music, but that's something that can transport me to a different feeling," too.

 

Hallion said the same. "Understand that you're going to feel irritable with people," she advised. "In terms of how to minimize it and keep from acting on it, try having a dedicated quiet space, a dedicated quiet time, where it's simply understood that the person staying there is looking out for some privacy and to respect that."

 

If you have to change the way things are set up in your home to make it happen, that's fine, too, Hallion added. And those walks you need to be taking are also a great way to get away from your kids (and let them get away from you) for an hour.

The Internet: The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems.

For social media

We here at Ars are of course in the business of news, and we hope you and yours will read and share our work, especially our COVID-19 coverage. But once you've gotten your daily update, it's time to close the laptop, put down the phone, and take a break. Just... go. Walk away. The Internet will be here later, and if you're here too much now, you'll just make everything worse.

 

"Social media can be wonderful in a time like this, because it keeps you in touch with people and keeps you updated," Hallion said. "But there can also be too much of a good thing, where the constant stream of information just becomes overwhelming." When that happens—or, ideally, before that happens—it's time to step away, she said:

At times like that, it's good to set the phone or the laptop aside. Give folks your number so that they can get in touch with you if there's an emergency, so you don't feel like you're going to miss something urgent. But then take a break, really try to put up some strong boundaries around it.

 

And I will say, for myself, it's easier said than done. Because we want to know what's going on, and we want to connect people. But we do need to be cautions for our mental health, if you're getting too much information. If it's pictures of puppies and things that fine, but if it's constant news about bad things? Take a breath and walk away.

It's important to stay connected to news in your local community; you need to know what guidelines officials are asking you to follow and so on. Instead of staying plugged in to the firehose, though, consider checking in at a few set times per day for updates instead.

 

And when you do take a social media break, now is indeed the time to curate your feeds. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram all have mute functions (Twitter also has a wonderful "turn off retweets" function), and if one of your friends or family members has gone full Nostradamus and is playing doom prophet with absolutely no real-world justification, you have our permission—indeed, our encouragement—to put them in time out.

Distant socializing

Humans are social animals; we need to keep in touch, especially when we're missing our regular outlets—ensemble performances, sports leagues, movie outings—for doing so. Luckily, this is where digital tools come in.

 

"Social support is critical for physical and mental health," Hallion said. "Make sure not to lose touch with people, even if you're physically separate. That may involve reaching out to people who you're not normally in close contact with. But we know times of crisis can bring people closer—and there are a lot of people out there who are interested in and grateful for opportunities to be in touch with others."

 

Hallion herself currently has virtual writing groups, she said. I have a long-running tabletop RPG campaign that meets by videoconference. Others are sharing happy hours and karaoke over FaceTime and Zoom.

 

Apps and extensions that plug into platforms such as Netflix are offering ways to do remote shared movie nights from home; even a good group text can work for shared viewing.

 

And when all else fails: Go retro, pick up the phone, and call your best friend like it's 1992. It'll probably be good for both of you.

Ask for help!

If you have resources available to you, use them. Many therapists, psychiatrists, and psychologists nationwide are now performing sessions by phone or video conference; if you already have a mental health professional, check in with them.

 

If you are still working, your employer may offer an Employee Assistance Plan that can connect you with help. Check in with your boss, HR, or benefits folks to learn about your company's offerings.

 

Also, if you or one of your loved ones is in immediate crisis, stop reading our guide and call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 [US].

 

 

Source: How to keep your sanity when you feel like the world is going crazy (Ars Technica)  

[ghost]

I just laugh at all the panic stricken, low IQ idiots running around like they are chickens with its head cut off. Arm yourself with Knowledge, be informed and differentiate BS from truth. 

[Karlston]

2 minutes ago, ghost said:

I just laugh at all the panic stricken, low IQ idiots running around like they are chickens with its head cut off. Arm yourself with Knowledge, be informed and differentiate BS from truth.

 

Most of the panic is fear caused by uncertainty. Personally, I'm a chronic worrier, to be frank the pandemic is doing my head in. 😟

 

IMO, people need to...

 

Make plans for doing lots of stuff differently to the way they do it now. For example, groceries/food and medication can be home delivered in most places.

 

Plan for possible eventualities, the worst of course being... what do I do if I or a dependent family member get the symptoms?

 

Find some reliable sources for information and news.

 

Restrict time spent reading about it. Spending hours just increases the anxiety-level for many (like me).

 

Find activities to occupy time.

 

Reducing uncertainty will (hopefully) lessen the fear, and the panic.

[ghost]

5 minutes ago, Karlston said:

 

Most of the panic is fear caused by uncertainty. Personally, I'm a chronic worrier, to be frank the pandemic is doing my head in. 😟

 

IMO, people need to...

 

Make plans for doing lots of stuff differently to the way they do it now. For example, groceries/food and medication can be home delivered in most places.

 

Plan for possible eventualities, the worst of course being... what do I do if I or a dependent family member get the symptoms?

 

Find some reliable sources for information and news.

 

Restrict time spent reading about it. Spending hours just increases the anxiety-level for many (like me).

 

Find activities to occupy time.

 

Reducing uncertainty will (hopefully) lessen the fear, and the panic.

Being scared and living in fear are two different things. I Worry too And I get scared as well; but that's normal. The difference is people in fear act in only their own interest. I will give one example: In the movie saving private Ryan, everyone is scared but that one character is in fear. That one guy in fear got his fellow soldiers killed. 

 

Everything you are going through. I am going through also and I am pretty sure everyone else is as well. That's normal. I play music to keep my nerves down and watch comedy movies to keep my mind from thinking of the worse. I hope this helps...

[Karlston]

32 minutes ago, ghost said:

The difference is people in fear act in only their own interest.

 

+1. The panic buying and hoarding we're seeing just about everywhere are, I think, examples of fear.

 

As an aside, the two biggest Australian supermarket chains (Woolworths and Coles) now have an "early hour" for the older and disadvantaged population, where they open an hour earlier and restrict entry during that hour to only those who are receiving some Government benefit or concession. In this way the more vulnerable people get the first chance at re-stocked shelves. They're also prioritising online orders (item selection and delivery delays) for them.

 

I have a Health Care Card because of my low income. I've been to one of each early-hours and I'm amazed how friendly, polite, and even helpful most of these shoppers are.

 

32 minutes ago, ghost said:

I hope this helps...

 

It does, thanks mate. It's reassuring to know that I'm not the only one.

[ghost]

3 minutes ago, Karlston said:

 

+1. The panic buying and hoarding we're seeing just about everywhere are, I think, examples of fear.

 

As an aside, the two biggest Australian supermarket chains (Woolworths and Coles) now have an "early hour" for the older and disadvantaged population, where they open an hour earlier and restrict entry to only those who are receiving some Government benefit or concession. In this way the more vulnerable people get the first chance at re-stocked shelves. They're also prioritising online orders (item selection and delivery delays) for them.

 

I have a Health Care Card because of my low income. I've been to one of each early-hours and I'm amazed how friendly, polite, and even helpful most of these shoppers are.

 

 

 

I completely agree. I think the stores should limit purchases to people who they think are hoarding. Give priority to seniors and less fortunate individuals.