Coping with COVID-19 - Part 2: Safety First!

The first way to calm the brain is to reduce the amount of threat that a person is actually facing. Hence, the COVID-19 safety considerations – wash your hands or use hand sanitizers, don’t touch your face, practice social distancing, wear masks and, in some communities with denser populations, even avoid going outside.

However, our ability to avoid COVID-19 is compromised in many other ways. For example, the degree of social distancing that is possible undoubtedly varies with income and the need for employment. It also varies with living in an urban area as is becoming abundantly clear for residents of New York City. Living in an apartment complex may require us to enter an elevator that is used by dozens of people throughout the day. People who would otherwise be homeless typically don’t have the option to social distance if a shelter is the best means to keeping them safe. Another dilemma is having to decide whether to shelter in place or to wait in long lines to vote in person (given the newly limited access to polling stations which are typically staffed by senior citizens whose own safety is at increased risk). Therefore, this pandemic is exposing the many underlying ways that seeking physical safety is a complicated choice.

In addition to the obvious physical danger of the virus itself, we have to find other ways to take care of our body in order to guard against adopting unsafe ways to control our stress. We need to get enough sleep, eat well, and exercise regularly – even when exercise may consist of simply walking around one’s living room if going outside becomes impossible. Unfortunately, we may be tempted to engage in unhelpful coping strategies such as substance abuse or excessive gaming or gambling. Given that in-person AA meetings are no longer possible in the short-term, it is essential to find and rely upon virtual online meetings.

Safety concerns also extend to the potential for self-harm. If you feel depressed or suicidal, tell somebody! Post the phone number of a suicide hotline someplace where you can readily see it. Identify a friend whom you can call in an emergency with no strings attached.

Another barrier to safety is family violence. Domestic violence and child abuse are both likely to increase dramatically as couples and families are forced into isolation and as mandated reporters have less access to children. Some college students find themselves having to return home to abusive households. The dilemma is obvious – does one risk leaving one’s home to stay at a shelter where one’s safety may be compromised by overcrowded conditions or does one risk further injury by remaining in one’s home with an abusive partner or parent? Excessive control by a partner may preclude the use of online therapy or hotline contacts. Nonetheless, we need to remember that, even though domestic violence services are stretched to the breaking point, staff are providing telehealth services. Many shelters have single-family units that allow parents to bring their children with them. Therefore, calling a local hotline is an important first step if you do not feel safe within your home.

In conclusion, don’t be afraid to ask friends or professionals for help. At the same time, check on the credentials of professionals you plan to see for therapy or other services. Above all, remember – we all deserve to feel safe!