APRIL
2020
Managing Anxiety during COVID-19
E D ITO RS ’ MESSAGE
Clover & Dayton
Team, we hope everyone is doing OK, despite the challenges being experienced during this pandemic. Remember that protecting your mental health is as important as guarding your physical wellbeing. Too often we ignore our mental health. In this edition of VM Buzz we share some tips on how to manage anxiety during COVID-19. We also share a reminder of the help that VM has arranged for those who need it. Plus, we share a lighter side of this whole experience in The Tyranny of the Sneeze. How have things been going for you? Let us know at VMCorporateAffairs@myvmgroup.com
CONTENTS
Pages 3 & 5
Managing Anxiety during COVID-19
Page 6
Help is available
Page 7 & 9
The Tyranny of the Sneeze
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MANAGING ANXIETY DURING COVID-19
The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak means that life is changing for all of us for a while. It may cause you to feel anxious, stressed, worried, sad, bored, lonely or frustrated.
It’s important to remember it is OK to feel this way and that everyone reacts differently. Remember, this situation is temporary and, for most of us, these difficult feelings will pass.
There are some simple things you can do to help you take care of your mental health and wellbeing during times of uncertainty. Doing so will help you think clearly, and make sure you are able to look after yourself and those you care about. Here are 10 ways you can help improve your mental health and wellbeing if you are worried or anxious about the coronavirus outbreak.
1. Stay connected with people Maintaining healthy relationships with people we trust is important for our mental wellbeing. So, think about how you can stay in touch with friends and family while staying at home. You could try phone calls, video calls or social media instead of meeting in person – whether it’s with people you normally see often or connecting with old friends. 2. Talk about your worries It’s normal to feel a bit worried, scared or helpless about the current situation. Remember: it is OK to share your concerns with others you trust – and doing so may help them too. 3. Support and help others Helping someone else can benefit you as well as them, so try to be a little more understanding of other people’s concerns, worries or behaviours at this time. Try to think of things you can do to help those around you. Is there a friend or family member nearby you could message? Are there any community groups you could join to support others locally?
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Remember, it is important to do this in line with official coronavirus guidance to keep everyone safe. 4. Feel prepared Working through the implications of staying at home should help you feel more prepared and less concerned. Think through a normal week: how will it be affected and what do you need to do to solve any problems? You could also think about who you can get help from locally – as well as people you know, lots of local and community as well as chat groups are being set up. Try to remember this disruption should only be temporary. 5. Look after your body Our physical health has a big impact on how we feel. At times like these, it can be easy to fall into unhealthy patterns of behaviour that end up making you feel worse. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, drink enough water and exercise regularly. Avoid smoking or drugs and try not to drink too much alcohol. 6. Stick to the facts Find a credible source you can trust – such as the Ministry of Health & Wellness website and fact-check information you get from newsfeeds, social media or other people. Think about how possibly inaccurate information could affect others too. Try not to share information without fact-checking against credible sources. You might also want to consider limiting the time you spend watching, reading or listening to coverage of the outbreak, including on social media, and think about turning off breaking-news alerts on your phone. You could set yourself a specific time to read updates or limit yourself to a couple of checks a day. 7. Do things you enjoy If we are feeling worried, anxious or low, we might stop doing things we usually enjoy. Focusing on your favourite hobby, relaxing indoors or connecting with others can help with anxious thoughts and feelings. If you cannot do the things you normally enjoy because you are staying at home, think about how you could adapt them, or try something new.
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8. Focus on the present Focusing on the present, rather than worrying about the future, can help with difficult emotions and improve our wellbeing. Relaxation techniques can also help some people deal with feelings of anxiety, or you could try our mindful breathing video. 9. Look after your sleep Good-quality sleep makes a big difference to how we feel mentally and physically, so it is important to get enough. Try to maintain regular sleeping patterns and keep up good sleep hygiene practices – like avoiding screens before bed, cutting back on caffeine and creating a restful environment. *Source: NHS.UK
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HELP IS AVAILABLE
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VM Tidbits
THE TYRANNY OF THE SNEEZE Many a tyrant has walked the Earth over generations, causing varying degrees of terror and turmoil. It is nevertheless surprising, that, in these times of viruses and social distancing, a sneeze now numbers among mankind’s most ominous oppressors. This became clear to me earlier today, as I stood in line at a New Kingston pharmacy, eager to complete the purchase of a packet of Multi-Symptom Panadol. To be clear, the tablets were being acquired solely for purposes of preparation and not to soothe any existing ailment. There, in the queue, it happened. It started with a gentle tingle. Then, a foreboding burn. It was obvious - a sneeze was about to present itself here inside this packed pharmacy, among a handful of unsuspecting fellow shoppers. In the little time I had before the inevitable would occur, I made a quick scan of my immediate surroundings. There was a woman standing just in front of me. She wore a wide-brimmed hat and a pair of white sneakers. Behind me was a short fellow of about 60. He was bearded with a bald head. Not far to my right was a heavyset middle-ager wearing a shirt that appeared a size too small. He had a pointy nose. These poor souls would, through no fault of their own, soon become the unlucky victims of my impending sneeze. An unfortunate bunch to be sure.
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Now, don’t get me wrong. I have long been a member of the sneeze-into-the-elbow club, and I was certainly intent on doing so now. But these are not normal times, you see. Even a well-placed sneeze, executed in full accordance with existing social and medical protocols, is met with terror and disdain - the sneezer immediately relegated to the realm of lepers and infidels, shunned and maligned with malice. But, I couldn’t help it. Achoo! It was about a magnitude 4.5 on the sneeze Richter scale – not earth shattering, but certainly powerful enough to attract attention. I intentionally exaggerated the embedding of my entire face in my elbow and kept it there a good five seconds after the conclusion of the sneeze, hoping to put my fellow shoppers at ease. It didn’t work. The first reaction was a protracted hiss from the man in the small shirt. Then, everyone took one step away from me. The first to speak was the hat-wearing woman. “Ello, pharmacist! Ello! Come give me mi medication mek mi lef dis place, yaw. Mi nuh able tideh!” she said. The middle-ager behind me piped up. “We don’t want to catch no corona, and people in here look like dem have it!” he said. I was about to turn to the fellow and refute the implied accusation, when the pharmacist appeared at the window. She was an aging woman with thick-framed spectacles. She wore her glasses case inside the breast pocket of her white coat.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” she said. “I take this opportunity to remind you that we have to be safe and practice social distancing. Please stand at least three feet away from people who are coughing or sneezing.” Everyone around me took another step away from me. “Erm, I’m not sick,” I said, unable to hold back any longer in the face of this ongoing social rebuke. “Den yuh just ah sneeze fi sneeze sake?” said Hat Woman. I was about to respond with an appropriately puerile quip when the pharmacist interjected. “Hello please! None of that! Nobody in here is sick. One sneeze doesn’t mean you are sick,” she said. Hat woman seemed unconvinced and mumbled something under her breath. She stepped a little further to her left and glanced at her watch, apparently annoyed that her prescription was taking so long to be filled. She started hastily tapping her feet. Meanwhile, I moved up to the head of the queue. I asked the cashier for Multi-Symptom Panadol, a request that was not met well by my accusers. “Same ting!” said Small Shirt. “Aye, man!” said the pharmacist who, was lingering at the window and, for some reason, had put on a mask since she last spoke. Small Shirt hissed and looked away. Hat Woman mumbled. I got the packet of pills from the cashier, paid for it and started walking off. “Next please!” the cashier hollered. As I stepped outside, I could hear Hat Woman say, “Tank God him gone! Mi nat tekking no corona from nobody tideh!” -Robert Lalah
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