Are you tired of missing family and friends, not having a routine, or not being able to go to places or do things you once did? Do you find that you have increased stress and feelings of loneliness due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19)? Has your life or the life of a family member or close friend been affected by infection or exposure? Perhaps you are trying to follow the safety guidelines and are irritated by people that do not. Our mental, emotional, and physical state directly influences our beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors regarding safety precautions and vaccination. With infection and hospitalization rates on the rise this winter, it’s important to take active steps as individuals so that collectively we can drive down the virus spread. For more on reasons why it is hard to follow the recommendations from the Center of Disease Control (CDC), read on.

​Life during 2020 has been very challenging. We were forced to make changes to our routines that we weren’t expecting, we experienced significant losses, and we continue to live with unnatural, difficult, and scary circumstances that are in many ways beyond our control and without a clear end in sight. Researchers are studying how people around the world are thriving and preventing problems with depression, anxiety, stress, alcohol abuse, etc. that are becoming more common due to the pandemic, its effects, and coronavirus or health-related worries. How do people successfully cope? 

Life during the COVID-19 pandemic creates so many different emotional reactions, including disappointment, fear/anxiety, and frustration. Under normal circumstances, when we strive for growth, change or achievement, we may encounter challenge and adversity. With the COVID-19 pandemic, maintaining normalcy and stability and just surviving is difficult. Whatever your current circumstance, here are some ways to cope when things don’t go as planned. 

I've been thinking a lot lately about how 2020 has been a year of change and growth. For most people, the challenge to adjust creates stress and worry. As time passes by, we may have a sense that  there's not enough time to do everything we need and want to (which can add to stress and feeling discontented). How can we avoid these time pressures and feel satisfied with the moments we live? For this reason, I want to offer 3 ways to continue building hardiness and resilience (in other words, the ability to remain calm in the face of crisis and recover quickly) so that stress levels stay manageable and not overwhelming. This important conversation also applies to the anxiety and worry we may feel with the holiday season/end of year, ongoing pandemic & prolonged stay at home/distancing recommendations, and presidential election. 

Recently, I had the privilege of partnering with RiseOC Church in Costa Mesa, California to create the 5 part video series, "Discovering Our New Normal, Together: 5 Conversations for Whole Person Health in 2020 and Beyond." In this series, Pastor Jenny Switkes and I review tips and experiences for the areas of stress management, physical & emotional health, social lives, and the work environment. The videos are being released weekly from September 8-September 29. There will be a live question and answer session (unrecorded) on Saturday, October 10 to review questions and comments from the series topics. To view the videos and for more information, visit ​https://riseoc.church/resources.      <3 Be well !! 

​This is a new video blog posted on the similarities and differences between seasonal flu (influenza virus) and corona virus (SARS COV2) & coping strategies for limiting overworrying as we enter the cold and flu season. ❤ Be healthy, safe, and well ! 

Related information: 
CDC COVID19 safety precautions:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/
CDC information on season flu vs. corona virus: 
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/flu-vs-covid19.htm#table

To contact me, you can use the forms on this website, call, or email at drsoohoo@sequoiacounselingoc.com.

​ Linda Rodgers’ article discusses the emotional challenges faced by those that are isolating from others and limiting their usual activities to limit risks of catching and spreading COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2. The article offers specific strategies for coping with the loneliness, recommendations to self-monitor for signs of worsening emotional health, and tips to limit risk when leaving the home is necessary.

​Primary insomnia refers to sleep difficulties that are not due to medication side effects, caffeine/stimulant or other substance use, or psychological/physical health conditions. Primary insomnia is characterized by:

• Difficulty falling or staying asleep, or waking up too early
• Poor quality sleep; feeling tired upon waking

​These are difficult times for so many reasons- which is putting a strain on our mental health and the ability of the healthcare system to adequately address the need. If you aren’t feeling like your usual self, you aren’t alone:

• Four in 10 adults said in a recent Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) poll that worry and stress related to the corona virus has had a negative impact on their mental health.
• Concerns such as alcohol/substance/opioid use, suicide rates, and domestic violence and abuse in the US are expected to increase
• There is an increased rate of depression, panic, trauma, and suicidal thoughts among first responders and front-line health ​care providers. Help seeking for these symptoms can be stymied by concerns of repercussions with help-seeking  or a tendency to put others’ needs or the mission before their own (which can be unhealthy or even dangerous in an extreme form).