Tempe/Glendale, AZ.
It’s no surprise that the COVID-19 pandemic can be stressful. Isolation and social distancing during COVID-19 has created additional stress in many households across our country. Our relationships may be directly or indirectly affected in new ways. We may feel “stuck in the house” with our loved ones and feeling as if there is nowhere to go, while other relationships may have leaped into the “long distance” category. Our closest relationships are being put to a new test with Coronavirus stress, often with increased conflict and less opportunity for self-care.
Relationship experts and counselors recommend making your closest relationships a top priority during this time. It is important to have some time set aside regularly for the people most important to you in your life. If you don’t live in the same household, there are a number of apps you can use such as Zoom or Facetime to help stay connected. Do things simultaneously together such as cooking, eating dinner, watching a movie, or playing a game without distraction. Most of all, make time for conversations and connection, these aspects are crucial to healthy relationships. Kindness is important because the better we treat each other now, the stronger we will be when the pandemic is over. Try not to be critical, we all deal with stress in different ways. Show understanding and empathy to each other to connect emotionally. Pandemic or not, we all want to be heard and understood with patience.
According to John Hopkins Medical Center, there’s quite a few ways to keep your relationships healthy and in harmony during this stressful time:
· Keep a good self-care routine with healthy sleep schedules and eating.
· Keep your workday limited. Be careful to not isolate from family with your work or blur the lines between work and home time.
· Be careful of substance use, including alcohol as increased stress can aggravate these habits.
· Go outside together. A change in setting and the fresh air with some physical movement is a good thing for mood-boosting and recharging.
· Plan something enjoyable or productive: a game night, a bike ride, a baking day, a DIY project, a bucket list of post-pandemic things to do, a scenic drive, etc.
· Identify your support system and use it.
· If there is a safety concern in your relationships, have a plan of who to call and where to go if there is a lack of safety.
When things become stressful, remember that kindness goes a long way. The better we treat each other now, the stronger we will be when the pandemic is over. Try not to be critical; We all deal with stress in different ways. Show understanding and empathy to one another to connect emotionally. Whether during a pandemic or not, we all want to be heard and understood. Lean on each other and connect the best that you can, one day at a time.
Click here to learn more about Aurora’s COVID-19 safety measures.
Remember…There is hope at Aurora
If you or a loved one are experiencing mental health or addiction symptoms that are concerning or worry you, Aurora is here to help. Our caring team of professionals takes a holistic and authentic approach while providing expert psychiatric care for teens and adults. For more information or to schedule a free confidential assessment, call our 24/7 Admissions Line at 877.870.7012
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233