Help for “Quarantine Fatigue”

by Kristin Cofield, Family Engagement Specialist

After two months of social distance and stay-at-home orders, many people may experience physical and emotional drain.  As our awareness about COVID-19 heightened, we went into crisis mode.  There was a lot of anxiety, panic, fear, and a need to make quick decisions for the best interest of our families and those we love.  It is difficult and unhealthy to maintain a state of crisis.  Eventually, reality sets in, and our mind will adapt to our current environment or situation. 

Even for those of us who may have welcomed the break in extended family obligations and an over-scheduled calendar, we still miss and crave the human connections we enjoyed. We are social creatures designed to interact with others. 

Now, a whole new type of uncertainty is creeping in as we reopen and return to some previous activities.  You may feel overwhelmed and stressed by the many unanswered questions and the unpredictability of our state. You are most likely feeling the effects of quarantine fatigue if you have felt this way:

• Irritable or feeling on edge
• Stressed, anxious, or having racing thoughts
• Eating more or eating less
• Unable to sleep or sleeping too much
• Unmotivated or less productive

May is Mental Health Month, which is a great reminder about how essential it is to monitor and take care of yourself physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.  Everyone reacts differently in a crisis.  Living through a pandemic is stressful and may cause your feelings to change over time.  If distress impacts your daily life for several weeks, consider seeking support.  If you or someone you care about are feeling overwhelmed or showing signs of distress, consider talking to someone about your concerns and feelings.  Looking for a place to start? Here’s just a sampling of licensed counselors able to support you:

• Christian Theological Seminary; cts.edu/counseling-center
• Janet Ditslear, MA, LMFT, EMDR Trained; janetditslear.com
• Jenny Drye, MA, LMHC, JSOCC; A Place to Heal; jjmeece@gmail.com
• Andrea Ford, MA, LMHC, LPC; Healing Streams Psychotherapy and Counseling, LLC; healingstreamsindy.com
• Abram Sinn, MA, LMFT; abramsinn.com
• Roxie Stone, MS, LCSW, ACSW, LCAC, EMDR Trained; Pathways to Healing Counseling; roxie@pathwaystohealingcounseling.com