Novel Coronavirus Lurking to Summon & Invite Crisis

Please note that information in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as advice or as a replacement to counseling. If requiring counseling services, please feel free to contact BOOST Psychology to schedule an appointment!

Considering the novel Coronavirus’s disruption in our lives in a multitude of ways over the last while, I thought it may be helpful to continue to provide some perceptions and activities in the meantime that may be helpful to consider in cultivating and boosting self-nurturance and nurturance for loved ones during this challenging time. By us taking care of ourselves and our loved ones, in my viewpoint, we are additionally looking out for one another, becoming each other’s connected security system if you will, collectively attempting to keep novel Coronavirus out!

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Upon reflection, in my perspective, novel Coronavirus has not only gradually imposed itself in our lives by having initially accompanied our lives from a distance, but, at some point, abruptly and brutally changed much of the nature of our existence – our sense of being, relationships, roles, responsibilities, reality, and subsistence in our world – as we knew it. Additionally, this prowler, characterized by the media as having manifold presentations (i.e., at times indiscernible, at other times identified via symptoms), which makes itself more difficult to detect at times – although characterization of having multiple presentations is not essentially unlike other cases of flu and colds we’ve encountered in the past – has seemingly challenged our perception of reality (and trust in assumed certainty and continuity in our worlds), our sense of our selves, knowing and our coping and it has transformed, at least to some degree, the nature of our communication and interaction with one another.

Many have questioned how we may anchor and ground through this apparent seemingly unfamiliar chaos? A list of activities – although definitely not a comprehensive list – that may assist in anchoring and grounding have been previously cited in my first article – “Our Collective Journey with Resilience During the COVID-19 Pandemic” – that may be located at https://www.boostpsych.com/child-adolescent-psychology-edmonton/resilience. Please note that this article was as well for informational purposes only and was not intended as advice or as a replacement to counseling.

In my opinion, the experiences of confusion, anxiety, fear, anger, and grief – and possible traumatic experiences – that we may encounter during this challenging time are very understandable and very valid, to say the least considering the current novel Coronavirus related circumstances. Honestly, I wish most heartedly these experiences did not exist for anyone of us or that I can somehow transform into a huge sponge that can absorb the global pain and suffering and squeeze it out and let it dry out. Unfortunately, such magical thinking simply puts a smile on my face briefly, but I do not have a magic wand to wave and make the realistic, complex, diversified and grueling challenges magically disappear. Nonetheless, I have found asking myself at times, “If I were to have a magic wand at this time, and can use it to wave in realistic positive changes in my life during these challenging times, what would those changes be?” to assist myself in inviting activities influencing optimism, positivity, and hope.

In all honesty, I do not perceive the current novel Coronavirus health-related emergency as a completely unprecedented circumstance – in all its health, social and economic impacts – as is constantly and relentlessly characterized as such via the media. Our global family has encountered differing health emergencies – although, needless to say, of some common and some diverse natures, health-related characteristics (i.e., such as in the Spanish flu 1918-1920 and Poliomyelitis 1920’s-1950’s) and associated outcomes – accordingly throughout history! (By the way, in no way am I at all proposing to be a well-versed historian by any means!) As such, it expectantly may be of benefit to reduce the anxiety and fear we may be experiencing – that may have been influencing our thinking to become rigid, inflexible and restricted – open the pathway to creative, solution-focused thinking and to remind ourselves that we or others – through our taking care of ourselves and others, and through our united human spirit and constructive efforts during hardship – have managed to cope and to endure through times of similar adversity throughout history! I am by no means minimizing nor suggesting that our current circumstances are not of significant nature and intensity and life-altering for all of us in differing and yet some similar ways and intensities. Nonetheless, my position is that through our application of constructive coping – including following our health authority’s prevention/intervention guidelines – social connection and support and support from our governments, our chances of maintaining as much wellness as possible through these challenging times expectantly enhances.

In considering that each of us has uniquely preferred nature of constructive coping, it may be helpful to reflect back at different times of adversity in life and to recall the type of thinking, lessons learned and activities that assisted in navigating through those hardships and to consider re-applying again in the context of our current circumstances. Additionally, it may not be a bad idea to consider applying these constructive coping strategies on a daily basis because they generally are generalizable to any given circumstance (be it a similar or very different circumstance). In applying our constructive coping regularly, we can additionally rest assured that there is some degree of structure, continuity, and normality in our lives, we effort in reducing the degree of stress and negative impact on our mood and overall wellbeing, we will expectantly become more armed in protecting ourselves against novel Coronavirus’ offensive attacks and we may experience a sense of self-efficacy and control in our lives again, which may additionally lead to a sense of optimism and further hope.

Nonetheless, in my opinion, one of the different aspects perhaps of the current emergency health circumstances (in comparison to historical delivery of news associated with emergency health matters) – that expectantly may have served to further increase anxiety, fear and stress overall – is likely owing to our generation of technology and the seeming repeated, literally relentless bombarding of rapidly evolving information throughout the day – every day – as regarding novel Coronavirus. As much as I prefer to continually remain informed of evolving circumstances surrounding novel Coronavirus, I have found it less consuming of my thoughts, more permitting of mindful/present engagement in other daily activities, much less stressful overall and more productive to obtain such information few times a day only for the purposes of checking in for important updates regarding circumstances and for prevention/intervention guidelines and helpful resources as provided by our local health authorities and news.

Another aspect about the media/news coverage of novel Coronavirus – that, perceivably additionally may serve to increase the anxiety, fear, and stress experienced overall – is the constant update of associated statistics accordingly. To be honest, in my opinion, the meaning of the statistics provided through the media thus far appears to be unclear, possibly misleading and may be experienced as overwhelming at best. Despite the expected continuous evolution of statistics, thus far, statistics do not seem to present a meaningful summary account including the number of people tested, the number of people known to be infected (and, at the same time, the number known to have resolved the infection), fatality rates (and probabilities) and of availability – and health care issues – of the health care resources (i.e., sufficient, shortage of resources).

Additionally, different locations (within and external to Canada) may be collecting, organizing, analyzing and interpreting the health statistics differently and may have differing standards for reporting such data/information, and, as such, this needs to be taken into consideration as well when wanting to consider meaningful comparisons. As such, statistics may appear to be vastly different across locations, although may actually share similar data/ information and results. In no way am I minimizing the realities and the threats and hazards of the novel Coronavirus, but I always find it helpful to remind myself to approach statistics in the news with a balanced perspective – considering statistics critically and leaving room for optimism (within what is unknown) and realistic hope – and of following through with what we have control over – following the prevention and intervention (i.e., handwashing, physical/social distancing) guidelines of our local authority to reduce the rate of infection.

In my perception, we all unite in our humanity, in our human vulnerability, in our need for basic needs, love, belonging and safety, and in our suffering and our grief. In my view, we have a sense of the power that lifts us all when we collectively choose to learn from and to unite our beautiful differences for a positive and optimistic collective difference! Again, not to minimize the continuing threats and hazards and the numerous complex and tough adversities and pain and suffering brought on by the attacks of novel Coronavirus, but simply suggesting that it may be helpful as well to attempt to maintain a balanced perspective in context of these challenging times by additionally noting and being grateful for anything positive that has overcome, resisted or defeated novel Coronavirus in its journey thus far (i.e., global expression of gratitude, compassion, courage and strength, beautiful diverse expressions of human spirit and resilience across the world, power of supportive communities, health-related wisdom and undertaking of innovation, overall global solidarity, some degree of positive earth and climate-related changes). Additionally, despite the aggressive bouts of the wrath of novel Coronavirus, we may effort to learn from our personal, social, economic, educational and health care-related vulnerabilities from this chaos and advocate for our governments to represent and endeavor to achieve the valuable changes needed in our communities.

Nonetheless, we are human, let’s not forget the importance of permitting ourselves to feel whatever we may be feeling at any given time and to keep in mind that there is no right or wrong feeling, that feelings are simply a valid response to our experiences. Nonetheless, I also encourage that we additionally activate our solution-focused thinking and take action to help us in moving through and positively effecting the emotion(s). It may be helpful to consider the source of an emotion (i.e., thoughts of uncertainty, anxiety, lack of control, fear) and to invite the elements essential to overcoming the need (i.e., invite aspects that invite sense of clarity and knowing, reduce anxiety, that support sense of self-efficacy, that reduce fear) and calm the emotion.

Despite the long starter, as previously mentioned, in this article, I will review some information and possible actions that may serve to prevent the prowling novel Coronavirus from summoning and inviting crisis experiences in your home. First, we need to share a general understanding of what crisis experiences may look like so that you may be able to identify the possible build-up of experiences of crisis presentation as soon as possible should it be trying to gradually sneak into your home so that you may be more armored to protect from or halt such intrusion!

The experience of crisis is a subjective one. This means that what may be experienced and identified as a crisis for one person may not be experienced or identified as a crisis for another. Nonetheless, although there are numerous influential factors that contribute to differing reactions amongst people in difficult situations, generally speaking, the following elements are important to consider in context of crisis.

- Thoughts/Perceptions: The way one thinks about or the meaning one attaches to an event or situation (i.e., such as the novel Coronavirus), generally impacts one’s emotional response(s), coping behavior(s), action(s)/choices and interactions.
- Emotional Distress: Generally speaking, the thoughts/meaning(s) attached to an event/situation, influences one’s emotions and, depending on the nature and intensity of the thoughts/meanings attached to an event/situation, these emotions may escalate to distressing intensity and in difficulty regulating. Excessive emotional stress also may impact us physically (i.e., headaches, low energy, upset stomach, health/immune system, muscle tension, insomnia).
- Coping Overwhelmed: Generally speaking, the thoughts/perceptions and escalated emotional experience – as indicated above – influences the idea that one’s personal resiliencies, coping capacity and social supports are not sufficient in dealing with emotional distress.
- Supportive Resources: Lacking supportive resources (i.e., family, friends, professional supports) and experiencing sense of being misunderstood, disconnection, overwhelm and sense of helplessness and hopelessness.

As such, if we – independently and/or in collaboration with supportive other(s) – identify and single out each of the components noted above (i.e., the thoughts, feelings, coping and social support), we may better understand and intervene with our experiences. For example, we can consider alternative helpful or even neutral ways of thinking about an event, engage in productive thinking (i.e., organize and prioritize concerns, resolve one concern at a time), apply useful coping activities (i.e., physical/exercise, creative, spiritual) and reach out for meaningful connection and positive support (as needed). This would expectantly lead to increasing sense of calm, enhanced sense of self-control over personal experiences and enhanced sense of self-efficacy and diversion from the path leading to an impending or approaching crisis.

Pay attention to mental status related variables that may serve to unintentionally increase physical, psychological and emotional stress, reduce coping resilience and, as well, gradually interfere with overall daily life functioning and support.

- Sleep (i.e., difficulty falling/remaining asleep, few hours of sleep, excessive hours of sleep)
- Appetite (i.e., disrupted eating patterns, eating less and noticing weight loss, eating more and noticing wait gain)
- Energy (i.e., irritability, pacing, low or high energy disrupting daily functioning/regular activity)
- Mood (i.e., frustration, fluctuating mood, anxiety, anger, sadness)
- Attention (i.e., easily distractible, difficulty paying attention)
- Memory (i.e., difficulty recalling)
- Interests (i.e., decrease in previously enjoyed activities that appears questionable)
- Motivation (i.e., lacking motivation for previously enjoyed activities, decreased socializing or decreased effort for current goals – i.e., academic, employment)
- Social (i.e., withdrawing, isolating which appears questionable)

Part of our protection – or defence – from any potential crisis summoned by novel Coronavirus is to maintain our overall health and wellness, coping and supportive teammates (i.e., family, friends, professionals). Please support healthy sleep habits, healthy eating and hydration habits, exercise and balanced socializing activities at home, as these factors may have a positive impact on overall mental status and wellbeing! As a family, discuss and practice routines, activities and support that may problem-solve with possible changes that may occur with mental status related variables noted above.

Use credible sources for novel Coronavirus information/updates. Limit exposure regarding novel Coronavirus information to credible sources such as Alberta Health Services (local health authority), Canada Health and World Health Organization. Consider cross/checking information for consistencies/inconsistencies to help with clarity. Consider that there is fake news lingering out there and unnecessarily serving to confuse or increase anxiety and fear unnecessarily.

Additionally, you may want to choose to limit information exposure time. It is important to be aware of the news as news continually evolves in context of our understanding of novel Coronavirus matters, instructions/plans to protect self, loved ones and all of us, supportive resources and etc. This information may provide us with a sense of understanding and knowing and some degree of control in our world. Nonetheless, it is just as important to be not completely consumed only by novel Coronavirus matters as this may start to be experienced as overwhelming. Consider selecting a few times a day that you may check up on the news and/or sharing checking times of news with another person. Consider as well that, unless there are updates in information – if you are taking turns keeping up with the news – there is no need to consult the other, again limiting unnecessary repetition of novel Coronavirus information.

Finally, you may consider monitoring/restricting your children’s access to and repetition of novel Coronavirus news. You may invite communication/discussion with your children as to their understanding and experience of novel Coronavirus events, clarify (and correct if inaccurate) their understanding and answer their questions honestly through appropriate developmentally understood explanations. Limit your children’s potential negative/inaccurate exposure to novel Coronavirus information – i.e.., via social media, internet.

For persons having been living with anxiety and OCD related experiences, any degree of exposure to news on novel Coronavirus may influence or intensify coping challenges. Repetitive thoughts and formalized urges/actions associated with concern of contamination, hand washing, and sanitizer usage, for example, may intensify and coping may become more difficult upon exposure to information on novel Coronavirus.

There are many ways to distract from or to cope with anxiety/worry thoughts and urges. You may want to consider limiting the degree of news exposure as regarding novel Coronavirus. Rather than engaging in hygiene-related urges/acts that follow the general thoughts/worries about hygiene, you may find it helpful instead to choose the standards/guidelines of handwashing and/or sanitizer usage as prescribed by our professional health authority for the function of hygiene-related protection. Additionally, you may also consider creating a productive daily/weekly structure and routine with sprinkled enjoyable variability in activities throughout the week to keep you constructively and meaningfully engaged with purpose – and to expectantly assist in boosting a shift away from possible intrusive thoughts and urges/acts if they should or when they arise – and to facilitate a balanced existence. Regular participation in activities influencing calm (i.e., exercise, coloring, meditation, mindful breathing, visualization and grounding activities) may be especially important in expectantly reducing stress and supporting manageable emotional experiences in general and, therefore, expectantly reducing overall intensity of anxiety/worry related thoughts and associated urges/acts. Similarly, connecting with nature and/or others may be other natural anti-anxiety and mood-enhancing activities. Again, it would be important to assure respect of physical/social distancing instructions by health authorities when not isolating or socially engaging. Seeking the support of professionals in reducing anxiety and enhancing well being may be helpful as well. You may consult with a dietician or nutritionist for insight as regarding food and nutrition that may promote health, overall wellbeing and enhanced mood. You may consider consulting a professional who specializes in aromatherapy (or essential oil therapy). You may consider seeking massage therapy. You may obtain professional counseling support if feeling defeated and/or that your life is interrupted by debilitating anxiety or OCD experiences. You may consult with a family physician or other medical professional (i.e., psychiatrist) as regarding psychotropic medication options or for assuring prescription refills (and continuing physician instructed medication schedule) if you are exercising such option. I really do believe that change is inevitable.

Risk related thoughts and behaviors (i.e., that may be associated with self-injury, suicide, substance usage) may arise from a number of factors (i.e., stress, struggles with mental status variables, compromised coping, accumulated losses, limited supportive resources, to name a few). Undoubtedly, specifics vary from individual to individual. One common factor amongst differing risk thoughts and behaviors is that the risk thoughts and behaviors were activated – at least in part – from one’s attempt to cope with a challenging, usually intensely painful and overwhelming experience.

In struggling with overwhelming pain and suffering, at times, people may experience their regular personal strengths/resiliencies, coping strategies/activities and supportive resources as not sufficient to release, eliminate, reduce, regulate and manage this pain and suffering and may desperately turn to contemplating other risk-related measures – i.e., self-injury, suicide ideation, substance usage – to release, eliminate, reduce, regulate, distract from/ignore or manage their pain and suffering.

In understanding risk related thoughts and behaviors, it is important to remember that, more often than not, it is about intense pain and suffering. At times, people feel unfamiliar, unaware and uncomfortable with how to approach someone who is struggling with certain risk-related thoughts and behaviors – such as associated with self-injury and suicide for example – because they themselves have not gone through this nature of experience. What may be helpful to remember is that pain and suffering is a universal experience -we’ve all experienced it at some point and does not have to be associated with risk-related thoughts and behavior – and, as such, our universal experience of pain and suffering serves as a kind of understanding and foundation as to how to begin a discussion about pain and suffering.

Consider opening up lines of communication with person struggling, listening to their story with compassion and acceptance (i.e., no judgment) and providing validating support. Nonetheless, if, for whatever reason(s), you may not feel comfortable engaging in such discussion (which is totally acceptable), please be informed that you are not alone in assisting with this difficulty and feel free to contact a relevant crisis line as soon as possible for such crisis support (i.e., see crisis resources list below) for person struggling.

On the other hand, if feeling comfortable to engage in such discussion, you may assist the person to identify the source(s) of their pain that influences risk related thoughts. You may inquire into the possible nature, plan(s)/means and intent of their risk-related thoughts. Consider making means intended to be used to harm self unavailable. (If person is unable or unwilling to maintain safe or has placed self at medical risk, it would be important to seek emergency medical assistance immediately.)

Consider possible realistic solutions to the pain – to problem solve with source(s) of pain – possible realistic changes that may be needed in the context of a relationship or situation and effective (independent and social) coping activities that may be used to decrease the pain. Consider asking the person what helpful support from you or others would look like, so there would be no guessing games. Generally speaking, identifying and reducing any other possible stressors as well is always a helpful action as well.

Consider what is important for all of us and the discussion may flow more naturally: To feel loved, valued, respected, heard and understood, socially connected and supported and to experience dignity and a sense of self-efficacy and control over circumstances.

Crisis Resources

If experiencing difficulty coping with and adapting to the current challenging time, you may reach out for professional counseling support.

If there should be any medical-related emergency, please contact 9-1-1 or proceed to your nearest hospital emergency department, unless our local health authority is to instruct differently at this time. Please contact crisis lines for information/clarity as regarding possible updates regarding this matter considering the emergency health circumstances of the pandemic.

Please also keep informed of 24/7 crisis services – as noted below – that may be timely reached at any time if such urgent assistance becomes needed. Please assure you seek out the most updated information as to the nature of and contact number for each of the services listed below to reassure you always have the correct service you need and number accordingly to use immediately, should you need to reach out for the emergency assistance of any of the resources listed below.

Addictions: 1-866-332-2322

24/7 support for mental health, including addictions matters.

Child Abuse: 1-800-387-5437

24/7 contact for assistance if you believe a child may be or is experiencing neglect, abuse or sexual exploitation.

Distress Line: 780-482-4357

24/7 Mental Health-related crisis support for persons 18 years of age and older.

AHS Child, Youth Crisis Team: 780-407-1000

08:00 AM – Midnight Crisis support 7 days per week for youth less than 18 years of age.

Domestic/Family Violence: 9-1-1 If in immediate danger or fear for your safety/survival.

If you have difficulty contacting needed emergency services by landline and/or cell phone, perhaps you may consider proceeding to your nearest required resource – i.e., medical/ambulance/hospital, police and/or fire department – if possible, in case of emergency. Please take the time to look into these options ahead of time to assure prompt and appropriate response/access to your required service(s)/resource(s) as needed.

Family Violence Information Line: 310-1818 – May ask about telephone counseling options, possible shelter arrangements, possible alternative safe placement options, and safety plans, for example.

Federal Government’s COVID-19 Resources:

Please see the Government of Canada (http://www.canada.ca) menu options as regarding novel Coronavirus related resources/support. Government of Canada Novel Coronavirus Information Line: Can be reached daily at 1-833-784-4397 from 7:00 AM – Midnight (EST)

Kids’ Help Line: 1-800-668-6868

24/7 Mental Health-related non-crisis and crisis support for youth under the age of 18 years of age.

Mental Health Help Line: 1-877-303-2642

24 Hour mental health-related support.

Author: Rea Kakoullis