If you are experiencing a Mental Health Crisis and you are located in Cowlitz County please call:
Cowlitz County Mental Health Crisis Line:
(800) 803-8833 or (360) 425-6064
Numbers for surrounding counties are located at the bottom of this article
I have been in quarantine for a few weeks now. I hate it. I tend to spend a lot of time alone anyway but not being allowed to go anywhere is different than choosing to not go anywhere…I know that it is necessary to stay away from people until a vaccination is created. Logically, with my type of medical history I know, if I were to get COVID-19, I might not survive so there is no argument that I can come up with to change my situation. Do you know what is worse about being quarantined? Being quarantined with my wife.
Don’t get me wrong. I love Karen a lot and she is my best friend because I really like her, but I am always thankful she can go to the gym to work off much of her abundant energy and need to incessantly talk before coming home tired enough, that I can keep up with her. With that option out of our reach for the moment, I have learned that our coping mechanisms are just as opposite as our personalities. My mind and body want to stop — I literally feel like I am moving in slow motion sometimes…and Karen speeds up. Her talking is faster. I can feel her nervous energy whether I am awake or asleep and it makes me want to scream…I know I irritate her too. My normal dose of Luvox I take for anxiety and OCD is fine for every day but this is not every day…
I am frustrating my own self…
It is no wonder that divorce is one of the highest Googled terms lately…Don’t worry…I haven’t even considered it, but we have had a few heart to hearts, and we are working with each other, because she really likes and loves me too…if you are considering the D-word…please don’t make any hasty decisions until after normal or our new normal has been established…At this point we don’t really know what is going to happen.
I was reading an article about History in a Crisis the other day and it is very apparent to me that during this pandemic we are living through, right now…we are in the full midst of step 2…
The three stages of recognizing an epidemic:
- Recognition and explanation of illness which coincides with the desire to protect economic interests and reluctant acceptance of the truth.
- Blame leading to governmental bodies using authority to force people without authority to comply with interventions like quarantine and mandatory vaccination. Closing of schools and businesses are a good way to slow down the spread of illness so this is not necessarily a bad thing.
- Resolution once the proper precautions have been set into place or the supply of susceptible victims has been consumed.
I am very excited about overcoming step 3…I hope that everyone is staying home while doctors and scientists find a vaccine for COVID-19. Past pandemics have shown us that the best way to contain illness is through vaccination but until a vaccine can be created the best thing we can do is to quarantine. We are currently doing this and hopefully what the news says is true: that this will be the quickest production of a vaccine ever.
So what should we be doing with our time while we wait? We should be taking care of ourselves within the confines of home. Often we let ourselves go while we focus on the outward but I am asking you to take care of your inner self too.
Important Steps to Self-Care During Crisis:
- Continue with your normal self-care routine: meds, exercise, food, water, sunshine, personal hygiene – no one wants to smell you before they see you 🙂
- Be honest with yourself about what you would like to accomplish during this time of confinement. Define how “busy” you want to be.
- Communicate with your cell mates…ahem…the people you live with about what you and everyone else needs to feel safe and cared for and how you can help each other.
- Scale back on your media time. It is good to be aware of what is happening in the world, but if it is causing you stress make sure you limit your time and focus your attention on other ways to connect, like calling, emailing or face-timing with a friend…or your personal trainer…
- Prioritize your self-care based on what brings you the most joy and remember that you must find times to answer your physical, spiritual, intellectual and mental needs.
- Address unmet needs that you can’t answer right now and give yourself permission to set that aside until you have more freedom in where you can go and what you can do — “Put a pin in it, “ until a time that you can answer this need and then make sure you make it a priority when you are able.
- Check in with yourself. Some people take a few minutes to make a list of what they need to do in order to care for themselves and check each task off as they get them done. You can do this in the morning or before you go to bed. Do a quick check-in. Ask yourself what do I need physically, intellectually, emotional and spiritually today?
- Ask for help when you feel overwhelmed. Sharing the tasks will help the people you live with to also feel helpful.
- Decide what really matters right now. Maybe the dishes can wait because you see that your kids are having a great game of basketball outside and you want to join in…I borrowed this one from my friend Maggie…
- Take breaks. You don’t have to fill every minute and for goodness sake don’t blow your sleep schedule…try to keep your normal wake and sleep times so that when you get to go back to work or school it will not be so hard to readjust.
It is normal for people to be anxious as stressed out during times of disaster. You may even be feeling worry and grief. This is ok. Everyone is different and if you don’t pay attention to your feelings and work through them they wont go away; they might even show up when you least expect or want them to… If you need a minute, tell the people you live with so they can be mindful of your needs…or at least get clear of you before you blow! LOL!
My emotions have been all over the place this week and when it is really bad I tell Karen so she can know that I am not angry or upset with her. When she doesn’t feel like she has to defend herself, she is great at being present with me through times that are more difficult. She does the same for me. We find it saves a lot of fights and hurt feelings.
I keep hearing on the news that suicide attempts are up 40% compared to last year and I can understand why. I haven’t got that low but if I am not mindful (thank God for Dialectical Behavior Therapy), hopelessness can take over. If you live with mental illness or substance abuse issues there are people who can help you, that know what you are going through. Please reach out if your are feeling like you can’t take it anymore.
You are loved and special to more people than you might realize.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s
(SAMHSA’s) Disaster Distress Hotline:
1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746.
Common signs of distress:
- Feelings of numbness, disbelief, anxiety or fear
- Changes in appetite, energy and activity levels
- Difficulty concentrating
- Difficulty sleeping or nightmares and upsetting thought and images
- Physical reactions, such as headaches, body pains, stomach problems and skin rashes
- Worsening of chronic health problems
- Anger or short-temper
- Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs
If you are experiencing these feelings and behaviors for more than a few days please reach out to someone. Whether it is a friend, pastor, medical professional or even one our Team Members, someone is willing to listen to you.
Mental Health Crisis Lines By County
-
Clark County Mental Health Crisis Line:
(800) 626-8137 or (360) 696-9560 -
Cowlitz County Mental Health Crisis Line:
(800) 803-8833 or (360) 425-6064 -
Skamania County Mental Health Crisis Line:
(509) 427-3850 -
Wahkiakum County Mental Health Crisis Line:
(360) 795-8630 -
National Suicide Prevention Helpline:
(800) 273-8255
Together we will get through this!
I hope this article answered questions you had and was easy to understand. If you would like us to write about a particular topic that you can’t find on this site, please send us an email on our Dear Jamie page and someone from Our Team will be glad to research and write about your topic.
Karen is training people online via
Facebook Messenger and Zoom
until the quarantine is lifted.
Please call or text her at
360-447-8061
to make an appointment.
If you are needing help with a comprehensive wellness plan and workout routine please Contact Wellness Works NW so you can meet with Karen G Clemenson and get moving.
I hope this article answered questions you had and was easy to understand. If you would like us to write about a particular topic that you can’t find on this site, please send us an email on our Dear Jamie page and someone from Our Team will be glad to research and write about your topic.
Resources and Start Learning More:
- Five lessons we should have learned from pandemics by Michael Baker for The Guardian
- History in a Crisis — Lessons for Covid-19 by David S. Jones, M.D., Ph.D. for The New England Journal of Medicine
- Practicing Self-Care During Stressful Times by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S. for PsychCentral
- Taking Care of Your Emotional Health by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Staff
Related Articles
- Brain Awareness & How to Take Care of Your Brain
- Self-Care Yourself to Wellness
- Learning About COVID-19
- Recovering After My Heart Attack
- What is Wellness?
I hope this article helps Fuel Your Wellness. Please leave your comments below.
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Summer D Clemenson co-owns Clemenson Enterprises and Wellness Works NW with her wife, Karen G Clemenson. Their personal motto is Creativity, Honesty & Positivity are a must! This mantra helps them stay community and wellness minded in all they do. Summer is an Independent Wellness Advocate at dōTERRA. Summer also writes poetry and inspirational blogs @ ClemensonEnterprises.com. Her crochet art can be viewed and purchased @ KnottyWares.com & she loves special orders!
