{"id":23183,"date":"2020-05-05T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-05-05T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/annshippymd.com\/self-care-is-more-important-than-ever\/"},"modified":"2022-01-26T00:01:50","modified_gmt":"2022-01-26T08:01:50","slug":"self-care-is-more-important-than-ever","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/annshippymd.com\/self-care-is-more-important-than-ever\/","title":{"rendered":"Self-Care Is More Important Than Ever"},"content":{"rendered":"

With COVID-19 cases<\/span>\u00a0continuing to\u00a0<\/span>increas<\/span>e<\/span>\u00a0in many areas<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>people and\u00a0<\/span>communities are\u00a0<\/span>continuing<\/span>\u00a0measures in place to decrease the spread of the virus. You may be\u00a0<\/span>continuing to\u00a0<\/span>experiencing<\/span>\u00a0the closure of schools and businesses in your area, \u201cshelter in place\u201d orders and be practicing social distancing of 6 feet from everyone except\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>immediate\u00a0<\/span>members of your household<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Some of you may start seeing businesses open up this week and in the coming weeks. You may be able to go to more appointments, send your kids to childcare or you may even be planning to head back to work.\u00a0<\/span>Although as communities open, they likely won\u2019t return to normal anytime soon. You may still decide to (or be required to) protect yourself and others by wearing a mask and maintaining social distance. You\u2019ll likely still be spending a lot of time at home.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I believe these measures\u00a0<\/span>have<\/span>\u00a0be<\/span>en<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>necessary in order to keep the health care system from being so overwhelmed that it can\u2019t accommodate those who develop COVID pneumonia or have another health emergency during this time.<\/span>\u00a0However, as testing capability continues to\u00a0<\/span>increase<\/span>\u00a0and treatment options are more available we will be able to identify patients\u00a0<\/span>needed treatment before symptoms become severe<\/span>. I discuss this more in my webinar from<\/span>\u00a0April\u00a0<\/span>29<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

A global pandemic of this scale is something we haven\u2019t experienced before<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0and it\u2019s no wonder that people are feeling scared, overwhelmed and anxious. There is worry about job stability, money, health risk<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0and death. There are high school seniors who won\u2019t get to walk down the aisle at graduation and grandparents who can only see their new grandchildren through a glass window. Some of us are at home with coughs, fevers and fear. It\u2019s a time of incredible heartbreak and grief<\/span>—<\/span>\u00a0believe me, I feel it too.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And it\u2019s okay if you still feel this way, even after many weeks of staying at home and if it continues as communities try to go back to normal. The pandemic isn\u2019t over and there is still a lot of uncertainty about what is to come.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This\u00a0has been\u00a0a time when\u00a0we\u00a0were forced to\u00a0slow down,<\/strong>\u00a0and that slowing often shows a silver lining.<\/strong> <\/span><\/h3>\n

I had a patient tell me that she saw all the new things her toddler could do that she didn\u2019t notice when she was so busy with commuting, working and all of the other<\/span>\u00a0stuff filling up our<\/span>\u00a0day-to-day<\/span>\u00a0live<\/span>s. And another<\/span>\u00a0patient told<\/span>\u00a0me that her headaches are less because she hasn\u2019t been driving and in<\/span>volved in<\/span>\u00a0other situations that are<\/span>\u00a0normally<\/span>\u00a0triggers for her.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One of t<\/span>he<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>most beautiful\u00a0<\/span>silver lining<\/span>s is that<\/span>\u00a0of feeling united and together,\u00a0<\/span>even\u00a0<\/span>whil<\/span>e\u00a0<\/span>we\u2019ve<\/span>\u00a0been\u00a0<\/span>apart. Are you as touched by the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>outpouring of love for health care workers and the displays of kindness that we are seeing more of<\/span>\u00a0each day<\/span>\u00a0as I am?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I know that some of you reading this are at home with more time on your hands, while others are still working at grocery stores, hospitals and supporting us all in other important ways.\u00a0<\/span>You<\/span>\u00a0may\u00a0<\/span>even\u00a0<\/span>be working more than ever before. Some of us are now juggling homeschooling our children while also continuing to work from home. Some of us are trying to find a job while everything is shut down.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A<\/span>lthough we all benefit from added<\/span>\u00a0self-care right now, it might look different for each person depending on your sit<\/span>uation<\/span>\u00a0and how that situation will change in the coming weeks<\/span>. This article is meant to offer so<\/span>me ideas about little ways yo<\/span>u can support yourself in this moment<\/span>\u00a0by taking care of your body, mind and soul.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In this article, you will learn<\/span>\u00a0s<\/span>elf<\/span>-care strategies around<\/span>:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n