CMHC Offers Tips To Stay Mentally & Emotionally Well During The COVID-19 Crisis

Wednesday, April 8, 2020 at 9:06 AM

It is crucial that while we can experience the stress in times of crisis, we need to remain calm, seek reliable information to guide our actions, and be considerate of those around us as we try to conduct our lives.

(Dearborn Co., Ind.) - During stressful times, maintaining mental and emotional wellness is more important that ever.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Coping with stress will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger.”

With this being said, everyone may show symptoms of stress, including:

fear and worry about your own health and the health of loved ones and friends,
changes in sleeping or eating patterns,
difficulty sleeping or concentrating,
worsening of existing chronic health problems, and
increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other substances

The CDC says, “Taking care of yourself, your family, and your friends can help you cope with stress. Helping others cope with their stress can also make your community stronger.”

There are a number of steps you can take to help you cope with the challenges of this crisis. CMHC recommends these tips:

Try to limit your exposure to news of the crisis, including on social media.
- Hearing constant and repeated news about the crisis can be upsetting. Use reliable sources, such as the CDC website and the Indiana State Department of Health website, to seek news and health information.
Take care of yourself.
- Try to maintain your normal eating and sleeping habits, if at all possible. Eat healthy, well-balanced meals, and exercise regularly. Avoid consuming alcohol and drugs.
Be sure to relax when you can.
- Do some favorite activities that you enjoy and that help you feel good, such as reading or watching a favorite TV show.
Connect with others.
- We are continuing to discover ways to reach other online: through social media, teleconferencing, chat groups, etc. Talk with people who you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.
Maintain and practice mindfulness and spiritual wellness.
- Make time for practices that enhance your sense of connection to self, nature, others, and your belief in a higher power. Such practices may include prayer, meditation, and reflection.

“This crisis has greatly impacted all of us. We are all vigilant and concerned,” said Tom Talbot, Executive Director of Community Mental Health Center, Inc. “Doing self-care is very important for us. Try to know yourself, read your body, understand how to self-regulate, know when to give yourself a break. CMHC’s mission – Partnering for Wellness: Healthy Mind. Healthy Body. Healthy Life. – helps us stay focused on this.”

“We are all learning new ways to cope with and how to function in our world in the midst of a great upheaval. Be kind to yourself and others. Understand that it is important to embrace hope as we move into the future,” said Talbot.

Behavioral health and substance use disorder services are provided by CMHC in Dearborn, Franklin, Ohio, Ripley, and Switzerland counties.

During the COVID-19 crisis, CMHC continues to offer some services as behavioral health and substance use disorders services have been declared essential by Indiana Governor Holcomb.

For information about services, please phone the following numbers:

Lawrenceburg – (812) 537-7375
Batesville – (812) 934-4210
Brookville – (765) 647-4173
St. Leon – (812) 576-1600
Vevay – (812) 427-2737

If you, a friend, or a family member are experiencing difficulties coping and you would like to talk to a therapist, you may contact one of these local offices to learn about how to get connected with a therapist for counseling sessions by phone or by videoconference.

You also may contact (812) 537-1302 to get information about available services.