COVID-19 Can Affect Mental Health

March 19, 2020
By: Bill Conger

The COVID-19 virus carries with it troubling physical concerns, but the crisis surrounding the disease also can create mental health issues.

Samanthia Curtis, LPC-MHSP, Clinical Director at Haven of Hope of DeKalb County, says the social distancing that health authorities recommend during this time can present a problem for extroverts and introverts alike.

“I’ve been joking that since I have introvert tendencies I will be fine to isolate,” says Curtis. “This isn’t completely true, though, because I have my immediate family living with me,” adds the mother of three and wife of Brad Curtis. “This of course means that I have human interaction built in right at home as many others do.”

“I suspect this will be an especially difficult time for people who live alone as well as those who enjoy a very active lifestyle. It will be important that these people to stay in contact with family members or friends by phone, video chat or social media. Also, pets are sometimes very therapeutic in helping people to not feel isolated.”

“I would encourage people to call and check in on each other during times of social distancing. Talking with a friend can greatly reduce stress.”

Curtis says stress during an infectious disease outbreak can present as fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones, changes in sleep or eating patterns, difficulty sleeping or concentrating, worsening of chronic health problems, and increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, people who may respond more strongly to the stress of the COVID-19 crisis include: older people and people with chronic diseases who are at higher risk for COVID-19, children and teens, people who are helping with the response to COVID-19, like doctors and other health care providers, or first responders, people who have existing mental health conditions and people who have problems with substance use.

The Haven of Hope counselor says for some people anxiety can kick in. She explains that signs of excessive worrying include the following: edginess or restlessness, tiring easily; more fatigued than usual, impaired concentration or feeling as though the mind goes blank, Irritability (which may or may not be observable to others), increased muscle aches or soreness, and difficulty sleeping (due to trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, restlessness at night, or unsatisfying sleep).

Social distancing could potentially lead to temporary depression, Curtis says mild symptoms of depression and anxiety can be improved by following these CDC guidelines:

Take care of your body– Try to eat healthy well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, and get plenty of sleep. Avoid alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.

Connect with others– Share your concerns and how you are feeling with a friend or family member. Maintain healthy relationships, and build a strong support system.

Take breaks– Make time to unwind and remind yourself that strong feelings will fade. Try taking in deep breaths. Try to do activities you usually enjoy.

Stay informed– When you feel that you are missing information, you may become more stressed or nervous. Watch, listen to, or read the news for updates from officials. Be aware that there may be rumors during a crisis, especially on social media. Always check your sources and turn to reliable sources of information like your local government authorities.

Avoid too much exposure to news– Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories. It can be upsetting to hear about the crisis and see images repeatedly. Try to do enjoyable activities and return to normal life as much as possible and check for updates between breaks.

Seek help when needed– If distress impacts activities of your daily life for several days or weeks, talk to a clergy member, counselor, or doctor, or contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-985-5990.

“I would encourage those with existing mental health conditions to continue appointments with their Mental Health Provider,” says Curtis. “I would also encourage those suffering from stress, anxiety, or depression that begins to impede everyday activities to reach out to a counselor.”

“Haven of Hope Counseling of DeKalb County would be happy to talk with you if you are experiencing new symptoms of anxiety or depression. Our six counselors are all caring qualified individuals who are here to support people who seek treatment for stress, anxiety, depression or any other mental health disorder during this time of crisis and beyond.”

The Haven of Hope is located at 301 West Main Street in Smithville. The phone number is (615) 597-4673. Starting Monday, March 23, counselors will be helping using the online counseling service, teletherapy, to serve clients.

“If you are struggling with mental health issues we are here to help.”

March 18, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

“I have never seen anything like this”

Dr. Hugh Don Cripps, a 48 year family physician in DeKalb County, appeared on WJLE this morning (Wednesday) along with local pharmacist Susannah Cripps to help educate the community about COVID-19.

Click the link below to hear the entire WJLE Radio Interview with Dr. Hugh Don and Susannah Cripps.

https://www.wjle.com/corona-virus-interview/

“We are in an epidemic now (nationally). Instead of going from containment, which we have lost the opportunity to do, we are now trying to manage it because we can’t prevent it any longer”.

“I think it’s going to be a hard problem to resolve until we get a treatment, vaccine, or cure. I think we will probably have to go through two seasons before its gone. It will probably quiet down as most coronaviruses do in the summer months but I don’t think it will disappear. I think it will raise its ugly head again in the winter,” said Dr. Cripps.

So far no one locally has tested positive for the Coronavirus.

“We have done testing from our office and we are getting them back in about four days. So far every test we have done has been negative. I think we have tested seven or eight. If a person is tested positive they should immediately be quarantined and if you have been in contact with them but were not wearing protective gear at the time you too should be quarantined,” said Dr. Cripps.

Click the link below to hear the entire WJLE Radio Interview with Dr. Hugh Don and Susannah Cripps.

https://www.wjle.com/corona-virus-interview/

March 18, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Attention Northside Families:

Cookie dough pick up will be today Wednesday March 18 from 12:00-5:00 pm at Northside Elementary School. Cookie dough will be distributed in drive through fashion. It will operate just like our car line runs each afternoon. This is the ONLY scheduled pick up time. We appreciate your patience and understanding in these unprecedented times.

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