From our previous installment on this stress management series, we discussed stress management for caregivers during COVID-19 pandemic.

We hope that all caregivers can consider some of the simple self-care activities they can engage in to cope with stress in a healthy manner.

Before that, we also looked into identifying signs of stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a general “checklist” that can be used to identify behavioral, mental, or emotional changes of stress.

If you or anyone you know are experiencing any of the stated signs as caregivers, refer our previous post on stress management for caregivers.

Our third focus on this four-part installment is on stress management for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

High-risk patients such as seniors or patients with underlying conditions, people with disabilities, and COVID-19 patients and survivors experience are at a higher risk of infection.

In these unprecedented times, where there is no road map to help patients remember or follow the changing guidelines and procedures, hence they are increasingly overwhelmed.

While patients are continually worrying about their health and try to protect themselves from the pandemic, stress among most of them is inevitable.

Role of Patients in Stress Management

• Limiting unnecessary interactions with other people.
• If participating in a gathering, wear a mask, sanitize/wash your hands frequently, ensure it is outdoors or in a well-ventilated space that is large enough for social distancing.
• Take the recommended vaccinations against pneumococcal disease and influenza.
• Continue taking your medication with no treatment plan changes without consultations with your healthcare practitioner.
• Avoid triggers that could make the symptoms of the underlying condition worse.
• Take the necessary tests on your health and monitor your results under the guidance of your healthcare provider.
• Ensure you have a month’ s-worth of supply of your medication to limit the number of trips you have to make to the pharmacy.
• Avoid undermining emergency care for any underlying condition due to the pandemic.
• If you have symptoms of COVID-19, get in touch with your caregiver/healthcare practitioner as soon as possible (less than 24-hours).
• Try to keep a list of people who visited you or have interacted with to help with contact tracing if someone is infected.
• Avoid touching surfaces that are commonly touched or any shared items.
• For those at home, consider home care assistance in Winchester to help you with day-to-day tasks that might be overwhelming.

Stress Management for Patients

High-Risk Patients (Seniors and Patients with Underlying Medical Conditions)

• Make Self-Care A Priority- Due to compromised immunity, high-risk patients should eat healthy and nutritious meals, engage in simple and regular exercises, and get enough sleep. Mental health should also be included in self-care for emotional and psychological well-being through frequent communication (via video calls).
• Know When It’s Time to Seek Help- Stress is normal during the pandemic; however, if stress starts to affect a high-risk patient’s daily life, causes an emotional, physical, and mental disturbance, it is important to seek professional help. Help can range from homecare or home healthcare or an assisted living facility.
• Keep Connections with Friends and Families- Even while observing social distance, staying connected has been made possible through technology with emails and video calls. These tools can help high-risk patients reduce stress even as they are reminded that everyone else is isolated.
• Stay Informed, but Limit News or Social Media- Focus on reliable and accurate sources of information to manage stress for high-risk patients. It is also important to limit the amount of time spent watching the news, reading newspapers, or social media platforms (Maximum of 30 minutes at a time).
• Learn a New Hobby/Skill- High-risk patients should use this time to learn a new skill or hobby such as knitting or a new language to keep them busy and avoid any negative thoughts.
• Get Involved in Socially Distanced Activities- Patients can engage in socially distanced activities to keep them busy at home, in a hospital, or within an assisted living facility. Here is a list of activities to try out.

People Living with Disabilities (PLWDs)

• Develop A Personal Care Strategy- Since personal care attendants might be restricted to give care during the pandemic, prepare a simple and comprehensive personal care strategy with the help of your attendant to ensure that you can independently handle some activities. The strategy will create a routine that will significantly reduce stress.
• Make Self-Care A Priority- Ensure that you have a list of self-care activities that will keep you engaged and active. Activities such as meditation, sports, and fitness adapted to your disability, joining a support group (online or offline) or learning a new skill.
• Get Help- Avoid engaging in risky activities that might results in an avoidable accident if there was someone to help. You can have a relative, friend, or assistant live with you to assist with these activities.
• Remain Emotionally and Mentally Present- Understand that the pandemic is affecting everyone, and you need to be in the moment instead of coping through denial or abusing drugs. Talk to someone about how you feel and how it affects you so that you can receive the support you need.
• Rely on a Credible Source of Information- Get a friend or website that you can rely on for credible information. Limit the time you spend on social media, as well as most of the information is non-factual.

COVID-19 Patient and Survivors 

• Focus on Your Health First- Avoid thinking about any other issues that might trigger stress. You must focus on getting better and solve any other issues after you have recovered.
• Eat Healthy Foods and Get Enough Sleep- For asymptomatic patients managing the virus at home, you need to eat more immunity-boosting foods, get enough sleep and avoid drugs that might compromise your immunity slow down the recovery process.
• Speak Out on Your Needs- Share your concerns on how you are coping with the virus/recovery process and ask for support when you need it. If you feel depressed or experience anxiety, speak out, and get therapy after you have recovered.
• Engage with Positive Minded People/Join A Support Group- Cases of stigmatization for survivors are quite rampant. A survivor needs to remain around positive-minded people who will encourage and support them post-recovery. Once fully recovered, you make it a personal initiative to educate others.
• Remember You Are Not in This Alone- Our healthcare workers have dedicated themselves to your full recovery, so you are not alone. They are there for you, trust their ability and training.

Check out available options for Respite Care Support in Woburn, MA.

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