“Place Your Own Mask…” Some Wellness Ideas for the TCI Community

Some Wellness Ideas for the TCI Community, offered by Pam Reeve, Chair, Board of Directors

We are bombarded every day with bad news about the pandemic; and equally we receive mountains of information about what to do, what to think, how to behave during this time.  At TCI we wanted to provide a quick set of ideas to help you with three elements of this crisis to help you take care of yourself so you can do all you are trying to do.  We thank our friends in the healthcare and corporate environments for their input and insights into these suggestions.

Self-Service Apps

• The Headspace app, available via iOS, Android or desktop, offers sets of guided meditations aimed at tackling problems related to anxiety, sleeplessness and relationships.
• The Evermind app, available via iOS and Android, can help you build resilience and handle stress using cognitive behavioral therapy techniques. In the app, you can access guided programs on improving sleep, disconnecting, challenging negative thought patterns and more.
• Digital wellness sessions, such as those offered by Kip Hollister and others can help you build your resiliency.

Dealing with fear, grief and loss associated with COVID-19

• Here are two very good  articles: Harvard Business Review – That Discomfort You’re Feeling is Grief and New York Times – Grieving the Losses of Coronavirus
• Many people are anxious about “the talk” with elderly or sick family members, or trying to support people at end of life when you can’t be there in person.  There is a useful resource on this at the VitalTalk site:  https://vitaltalk.org/guides/covid-19-communication-skills.  While this resource is used by healthcare professionals, its guidelines are useful for anyone having a difficult conversation in the current environment.

Encountering bad behavior

Unfortunately, throughout the country – and right here in our local community – there has been an increase in xenophobic events and bias directed toward people assumed to be from regions where COVID-19 ​was first detected.  We encourage you to not only avoid participating in these types of harmful actions, but to be active participants in interrupting and denouncing this behavior. We should all work toward building a safe, supportive climate, free from racial and xenophobic hostility, particularly during these anxious times. Here are several things that you can do:

• Recognize that experiences of xenophobia and racism may affect your mental health. Seek assistance and access resources available to you.
• Treat community members with care and empathy. Realize that this can be an emotional time for many people, especially as we are inundated with messaging around the virus.
• Report a bias incident or act of discrimination, particularly if they are associated with physical abuse.

TCI is a community and we are here to support one another during this difficult time. We encourage you to care for yourself in whatever way that looks like for you and take advantage of these resources as we continue to weather this storm together.