Body & Mind – Page 27 – Things Are Good

Mental Health Tips to Help You Get Through Social Distancing

hands

Weeks of practicing social distancing can get tiring since we don’t feel as physically connected to our social groups as normal. That’s ok, we all feel that way. So what do we do about it? We can practice good mental health hygiene too.

Over at Discover they have seven tips from a clinical psychologist to help you find ways to mirage any anxiety or stress you’re currently feeling due to the pandemic. You don’t have to take all their advice, but some might be worth considering for you and maybe your entire household.

Routine is your friend
It helps to manage anxiety, and will help you to adapt more quickly to this current reality. Create clear distinctions between work and non-work time, ideally in both your physical workspace and your head space. Find something to do that is not work and is not virus-related that brings you joy. Working in short bursts with clear breaks will help to maintain your clarity of thought.

Be compassionate with yourself and with others
There is much that we cannot control right now, but how we talk to ourselves during these challenging times can either provide a powerful buffer to these difficult circumstances or amplify our distress. Moments of feeling overwhelmed often come with big thoughts, such as â€œI cannot do this,â€ or â€œThis is too hard.â€ This pandemic will cause a lot of stress for many of us, and we cannot be our best selves all the time. But we can ask for help or reach out when help is asked of us.

Listen to this Song to Reduce Your Anxiety

Marconi Union – Weightless (Official Video) from Optical Vitamins on Vimeo.

The song Weightless by the Marconi Union has been proven by neuroscientists to reduce people’s anxiety, and in times like a pandemic we can all get too stressed out. Following in the tradition of ambient music artist the group set out to create an aural atmosphere that welcomed and comforted people. Don’t take my word for it, click play on the video above and relax.

According to Dr. David Lewis-Hodgson of Mindlab International, which conducted the research, the top song produced a greater state of relaxation than any other music tested to date.
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Equally remarkable is the fact the song was actually constructed to do so. The group that created “Weightless”, Marconi Union, did so in collaboration with sound therapists. Its carefully arranged harmonies, rhythms, and bass lines help slow a listener’s heart rate, reduce blood pressure and lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

Make & Wear Masks to Stop the Spread of COVID-19

homemade face mask

A mask shortage hit the Czech Republic early in their efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 and the people reacted swiftly by making their own masks. Indeed, people in the Czech Republic shared sewing plans and techniques while delivering the final product to hospitals and neighbours. Their joint efforts have proven to be effective when combined with social distancing.

To be clear, the homemade masks aren’t nearly as effective as proper surgical masks. The advantages of homemade masks has been explored by researchers in the past and concludes that homemade masks can help if there is a mask shortage since it lessens exposure.

Can’t make masks, please wear one when out in public even if you’re not sick (but you shouldn’t be in public spaces around other people anyway right now).

As the shortage of masks provided by the government continued, hospitals reached out on social media and asked if people may be able to sew a few masks for them because they were running low. In an unprecedented show of support, many people started making masks, not just for the hospitals but for everybody. The effort was both individual – people making masks by hand sewing or on a sewing machine at home, and organizational – theaters, non-profit organizations, small business and factories which normally produce clothes, linens, accessories redirected their efforts into full-time sewing. Local companies were sewing in bulk, supplying hospitals, senior citizen homes, the police or firemen. Masks were delivered to hospitals or to friends and neighbors who would often find them in their mailboxes. In some areas, people created â€œmask treesâ€ where they would put available extra masks that were up for grabs for others.

Canadian Clinical Study to Fight COVID-19 Inflammation Starts Today

Covid-19 Transmission graphic

Researchers are working around the world and around the clock to ensure that we can stymie the spread and harm from COVID-19. Today, a new clinical study run by the Montreal Heart Institute will look at the effectiveness of saving those already infected by using a well-tested drug that holds back inflammation in patients. The body’s response to COVID-19 is runaway inflammation, which makes it one of the causes of death. This study is one of many clinical trials and studies being run right now to figure out the best way to help those with COVID-19, I chose to post this one as many readers are based in Canada and can participate in this study.

The clinical study, named COLCORONA, coordinated by the Montreal Health Innovations Coordinating Center (MHICC) is funded by the Government of Quebec and supported by Pharmascience and CGI.

COLCORONA will evaluate the phenomenon of major inflammatory storm present in adults suffering from severe complications related to COVID-19. The researchers hypothesized that the treatment could reduce the complications associated with COVID-19. The clinical study will involve the recruitment of approximately 6,000 participants followed for 30 days. Initial results will be available a few days after study completion.

Participants eligibility criteria:

Be tested positive for COVID-19;

Be 40 years and over;

Not hospitalized;

Be willing to take the drug or placebo daily for 30 days;

Be willing to participate in two follow-up calls by phone or videoconference.

How You Can Help Fight COVID-19

Covid-19 Transmission graphic

The global pandemic of COVID-19 is flooding healthcare systems with more patients than they can handle. There is something you can do about this: stay home. Yes, just stay home.

One of the reasons that people (except boomers) care about the virus is that it spreads so easily by asymptotic individuals. Since we can’t outwardly tell who currently has COVID-19 (unlike most flus) we need to isolate ourselves from others and limit our contact with people outside our household. The easiest thing you can do to help fight COVID-19 is by not physically seeing other people, instead call them.

The Self-Quarantine Manifesto

With no well-studied treatment and no viable vaccine available for at least another year, the only effective way to keep the coronavirus pandemic at bay is to give the virus fewer chances of spreading. The following list of actions, ordered from easiest to implement to most effective in the fight against the pandemic, should serve as a set of loose guidelines for people who wish to join the movement and take action that can actually make a difference.

Don’t panic, but be alert.

Wash your hands often and practice good cough and sneeze etiquette.

Try to touch your face as little as possible, including your mouth, nose, and eyes.

Practice social distancing, no hugs and kisses, no handshakes, no high fives. If you must, use safer alternatives.

Do not attend concerts, stage plays, sporting events, or any other mass entertainment events.

Refrain from visiting museums, exhibitions, movie theaters, night clubs, and other entertainment venues.

Stay away from social gatherings and events, like club meetings, religious services, and private parties.

Reduce travel to a minimum. Don’t travel long distances if not absolutely necessary.

Do not use public transportation if not absolutely necessary.

If you can work from home, work from home. Urge your employer to allow remote work if needed.

Replace as many social interactions as possible with remote alternatives like phone calls or video chat.

Do not leave your home unless absolutely necessary.