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Coping During COVID-19

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Does COVID-19 have you feeling stressed? Maybe depressed? Worried? Or possibly grateful? Blessed? Sometimes even happy? As each week, and sometimes each day, changes before our very eyes, I have come to realize that life during this pandemic is something that I cannot fully control nor plan out. This is coming from someone who loves to have every 30 minute-increment of the day planned out from when I wake up until I fall asleep, which basically went down the drain as soon as the quarantine started (cheers to all of the money lost by buying a 2020 calendar!). But, coming to let go of control and planning comes the realization that our emotions during this time might be on all ends of the spectrum and can cause us great grief and confusion if we do not have the accurate coping mechanisms and tools that are needed during this uncertain time. In this post, I’ll talk about the ways you can cope for some of the most commonly experienced emotions during COVID-19.

Stressed? DEPRESSED? ANXIOUS?

  • Get outside! Let the sun give you that much needed Vitamin D and try your best to relax.
  • Workout as often as you can, whether it is done inside or outside. Working out increases the production of endorphins, and like Elle Woods said, “Endorphins make you happy!”.
  • Keep a journal and write when you can. I find that making an entry everyday, even if it’s just a sentence or two, makes me feel better.
  • Distract yourself with productive work, but don’t try to not feel your emotions. It’s important to feel you feelings, but sometimes cleaning, learning something new, reading, etc,. helps to put us in another place mentally and emotionally so we can make our emotions work for us instead of against us.
  • All of these emotions are valid, but it is important to try our best to not live in them, as long term affects of stress, anxiety, and depression can lead to serious mental and physical health effects.

Denial? Anger? Fear?

  • It is completely okay to feel angry or to deny that this pandemic is happening, but we cannot control much in this situation, so it is important to try and control what you can: yourself. By making sure you follow the social-distancing and quarantining rules that are currently instated, you are helping to not only keep yourself safe, but others, too!
  • It’s normal to be angry that this is happening and possibly wreaking havoc on your life (mentally, financially, emotionally, physically, etc), but we cannot stay in this emotion for long, as anger and fear tend to go hand-in-hand.
  • If you can, try to meditate and say positive affirmations, as they will produce more positive feelings to combat the negative ones. Taking time to yourself to feel grateful and peaceful will help the fear and anger that occurs when thinking about how COVID-19 may have ruined a lot of things for us.
  • Remember, this will not last forever. This is just one part of our lives that is occurring and we will get through it.

Grateful? Blessed? HAPPY?

  • While for some it may be hard to understand how these feelings can occur right now, I have noticed that there are some who are experiencing these emotions as time goes on.
  • Feeling grateful/blessed/happy tends to come from looking on the bright side of things, and those who are experiencing this may be in a place where they went through the above feelings and came to the conclusion that they cannot control this situation, then became okay with that, and then remembered that will not last forever, so they decided to make the best out of the situation that they are currently in.
  • This may include journalling, trying to keep a bit of a new-normal schedule, and finding ways to keep busy and active.
  • Spending time with family and friends (social-distancing included, as usual!) will also help if you are in need of a happiness boost!
  • It is completely valid to feel happy that some things are cancelled and that you have more time to yourself, or that some of your responsibilities are on hold so now you have time to watch more TV/workout/relax/spend time with family/etc. This is a weird time, and finding what makes you happy is important!

We will get through this, one day at a time. The Wellness and Stress Clinic of Memphis will be open today, Monday April 20th, from 5-7:15pm. We will be offering Tele-Health Appointments during those times, which if you are interested in making an appointment, please call (901) 506-5433. If you would like any self-care tips, please refer to the “Self-Care and COVID-19” post from a few weeks ago. Stay safe and healthy, and remember to help #StopTheSpread in any way that you can.

–The Wellness and Stress Clinic Team

Spreading Kindness

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Being kind is not only beneficial for others, but also for yourself! Recent research has shown that both giving and receiving kindness helps promote good health and general well-being. By infusing the community with kindness, you can help create a “ripple effect” that can branch into an entire network of positivity. It may seem hard to spread kindness during the quarantine, but I hope I can give you some ideas about how to create this ripple effect from the comfort of your own home.

  1. Smile
    • Whether you’re quarantining by yourself, with your pets, friends, or family, it will help you to spread kindness!
  2. Express Gratitude
    • Journal your appreciation and admiration, or tell your friends and family members how much you love and care for them!
  3. Act Generously and Give Back
    • Donate to charities, food banks, and people in need during this time. By giving back to the community, you’re spreading kindness and creating the ripple effect of positivity that the world needs right now!
  4. Post Positively
    • If you’re an avid poster (or re-poster), then make sure the content you are sharing is adding to people’s lives and creates a more positive and kind view. By sharing positive content, you’re helping to shape a more positive world.
  5. Practice Self-Kindness
    • Kindness starts with yourself. It’s important to treat yourself with the same love and care that you would treat others with. Take some time for yourself, practice self-love and self-care, and remind yourself that you deserve all of the goodness that the world has to offer.

By using these 5 tips, you can effectively spread kindness to all who need it, including yourself. If you are in need of any health services, please call the clinic at (901) 306-5433. We are open tonight, April 13th, from 5-7:15pm CST and will be offering tele-health appointments. Stay healthy and safe, and remember to help #StopTheSpread by using these tips and through the use of social distancing.

–The Wellness and Stress Clinic Team

Self-Care & COVID-19

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Now more than ever is it important to quiet yourself and ask, “What do I need right now?”. Sometimes the answer might be to watch some Netflix and eat some ice cream, and sometimes it might be to journal about your feelings and experiences and cry. It is important to realize that we are going through a collectively traumatic experience, and that not everyone will be able to be as productive as they might have been before the pandemic. Not everyone will be able to do everything that they promised before the pandemic, and that’s okay. What’s most important is to remember that there are people who care about you, and that there are many tools for how to cope throughout this experience, and to know that it won’t last forever.

Here, I will share some helpful self-care options to add to your mental, physical, and emotional toolkit. Not all of these options may work for you, but I hope that this can help you to know that there are ways to help yourself during this time.

Self-care options:

  1. Feel your feelings
    • This can be done by journaling, talking to a trusted professional, loved one, or friend, and even by allowing yourself to sit with the emotions that come up. It may be uncomfortable at first, but it will help you work through the stress and anxiety that may be coming up with the uncertainty that COVID-19 brings.
  2. Go Outside & Move
    • Getting your daily dose of Vitamin D has shown to help mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety disorders. Spending anywhere between 10-30 minutes everyday to every couple of days is sufficient enough, but it depends on your skin tone and whether you are already deficient in Vitamin D. As for movement, it is important to remember to move as much as possible, whether it is to walk your dog outside everyday or to have routine exercises imbedded in your new schedule, whether they’re done inside or outside.
  3. Prioritize Sleep
    • Make sure you’re getting enough sleep every night! Naps are encouraged, being on high-alert is exhausting!
  4. Talk to a Friend/Family Member/Trusted Professional
    • Text/FaceTime/Call anyone you’d like to talk to! Everyone could use a friend right now.
  5. Lean Into Your Happy
    • Do you enjoy having coffee with a friend? Watching movies? Making art? Reading endless amounts of books? Lean into those things! Whatever makes you happy is worth having a spot in your everyday life.

You would be surprised at how helpful it is to add these things into your daily schedule! You deserve happiness, care, and your health. Also, please remember to practice safe social distancing practices during this time to keep others happy and healthy. If you have any health-related questions or concerns, please call the clinic at (901) 306-5433. I hope this helps, stay healthy and safe!

–The Wellness & Stress Clinic Team

CLINIC TELE-HEALTH SERVICES (04/06/2020)

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The Wellness and Stress Clinic of Memphis is open today for tele-health appointments and we will be taking calls tonight from 5-7:15pm. If you are a current patient who needs prescription refills, test results, or an appointment, please call the clinic at (901) 306-5433. If you are in need of immediate assistance, please contact EMS. Thank you for your patience during this time, stay safe and healthy!

CLINIC CLOSED (03/16/2020) DUE TO COVID-19

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The Wellness and Stress Clinic of Memphis is temporarily suspended for Monday, March 16th, 2020 while we work to develop a system for continuing to provide free primary care, social work, and emotional fitness services and keep our patients, students and volunteers safe. The coronavirus poses specific challenges for our service delivery. We are working hard over the next week to develop a plan. If you need immediate medical attention – please contact EMS. If you have a health-related question (i.e. prescription refills, test results, etc.), please call our phone number at (901) 306-5433.

Coronavirus: what’s it all about?

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The recent outbreak of respiratory disease has been caused by COVID-19, also known as coronavirus disease 2019. This disease has been detected in as many 60 countries internationally, which includes the United States. Coronaviruses are a very large family of viruses that are common in people and in many different species of animals. While rare, people can be infected by animals such as bats, cattle, and even cats. If you’re worried about possibly contracting and/or spreading this disease, then learning more about the disease and how it spreads will help keep you and others safe during this time.

Signs and symptoms of COVID-19:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath

People with COVID-19 should receive as much supportive care to help relieve these symptoms since there is not a specific antiviral treatment recommended yet for this disease. If symptoms become severe, then treatment should include care to support vital organ functions. If you or someone you know is experiencing any or all of these symptoms, then make sure to visit your physician as soon as you can. The Wellness and Stress Clinic of Memphis can see you on Monday’s from 5-7pm, but if you’re in need of assistance before then try to see another provider as soon as possible to stop the spread of this disease.

There are also some simple things that you can do to keep yourself and others healthy:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Make sure to do this after going to the bathroom, before eating, after blowing your nose and/or coughing/sneezing.
  • Avoid touching your nose, eyes, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough/sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash once you are finished. Do not reuse old tissues.

It is important to note that anyone can contract this disease and the chances of someone contracting and/or spreading this disease who is of Asian descent is not higher than someone who isn’t. Help us stop fear based racism by making sure that this is known, as it only creates more confusion and fear than necessary.

If you have any questions, please come by during our clinic hours on Monday’s from 5-7pm or email/call us with any comments, questions, or concerns. Have a happy and healthy week!

Links:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention-treatment.html

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/share-facts.html

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html

Flu Season Tips & Tricks

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Influenza, commonly known as the ‘flu’, is unpredictable. While the flu spreads every year, the timing, severity, and the length of the season varies from one season to another. This is why it is important to get vaccinated against the flu with each season and to practice healthy habits.

At the Wellness and Stress Clinic of Memphis, we use many proven methods to combat the flu, which if done correctly can reduce your chances of getting the flu and can also reduce the severity and longevity of the flu if you do catch it:

We can do this in-house at the clinic on any first three Mondays of the month from 5-7pm for free. The CDC recommends that you get your flu shot as early as possible. The beginning of flu season tends to be sometime in September or October of each year.

  • Wash your hands frequently and well.

Washing your hands as often as possible is one of the best ways to combat the flu because the virus is spread by droplets from infected people when they sneeze, cough, and even wipe secretions from their eyes and noses. Keeping your hands clean will help keep you and everyone around you safe from the flu.

  • Stay hydrated and Eat a Healthy Diet rich in Vitamins C and E.

Since foods that contain these vitamins are believed to help support the immune system, it is important to be eating them on a regular basis during flu season. If foods containing these vitamins are a concern for you, please come by the clinic so we can offer other options and make a plan with you. In the meantime, aim to reduce your intake of of concentrated sugars (e.g. soda, candy, etc) because excessive sugar has been shown to impair the immune system. Also aim to increase your water intake as much as possible, because drinking extra fluids prevents dehydration caused by mucus, loosens mucus, and helps to keep your throat moist.

  • Get a good night’s sleep.

Getting a lack of sleep has shown to be detrimental to our immune system. By getting a full night’s sleep, you optimize your body’s natural defenses.

  • Talk to your doctor, and seek help if you get worse.

Come visit the clinic to learn more about staying healthy during flu season, and seek medical attention right away if your symptoms become significantly worse after the first three days of illness, especially if your fever subsides and then returns. The reason that the flu is considered a potentially dangerous infection is because it leaves the body vulnerable to other infections like pneumonia.

While the flu season is almost at an end, it is important to still take precautions. Listening to your body, being in contact with your doctor, and practicing these tips and tricks will help keep you and those around you healthy during this flu season. If you have any questions or concerns, come stop by on the first four Mondays of the month from 5-7pm or call us at (901) 306-5433 (LIFE).

If you’re interested in learning more, feel free to look at the graphic attached to this post. Have a happy and healthy week!

–The Wellness and Stress Clinic of Memphis

Health Education Classes Begin in March

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Well…the new year’s resolution time has passed and my goal to eat healthier and get active has already faced some barriers. The truth is figuring out ways to eat food you love, that is healthy and affordable is challenging. Additionally, finding time to work out or be active is particularly difficult. Over 80% of males and 66% of females work more than 40 hours per week. That doesn’t include the work that, disproportionately women, do in the home watching children, cleaning the house, etc. This can make it hard to find time to go to the gym, or attend a class. The good news is that research has demonstrated that even working out once a week has health benefits, both physical and emotional (physical activity makes you feel better). With this in mind the Wellness and Stress Clinic is launching their first health education course “Eating Right and Getting Moving.” The course meets once a week and has 45 minutes of introductory fitness opportunities followed by a 45 minute healthy eating demonstration. This course is designed for adults, over the age of 18, who are interested in improving their health through diet and movement. The course will also discuss recipes and tips for eating well with a chronic disease (i.e. diabetes, hypertension, etc). Participants get some benefits as well (e.g. free gym membership for up to 6 months). Join us at the Wellness and Stress Clinic for our first health education course! Exercise & cooking class

Cooking class_flyer

Clinic Tonight (12/3)

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Come see us tonight from 5:00-7:00pm for our first December clinic. We will have primary care providers from UTHSC and Methodist, social workers from the University of Memphis and lawyers from Memphis Area Legal Services. Come see us if you are uninsured and need some help!

Wellness901