THAT
THAT THEY
THAT THEY KNOW OF CONTRACTING COALBED WELL NINE MONTHS OF PANDEMIC LIFE HAS REALLY
TAKEN A TOLL ON MANY OF US.
>> AND WE ARE SEEING THE
EFFECTS OF COURSE ON OUR MENTAL
HEALTH.
HERE AT KING5 WE WANT TO KNOW
ARE YOU OKAY IN THIS NEW
SEGMENT?
>> WE WILL TAKE A CLOSER LOOK
AT WHAT IS GOING ON, THE IMPACT
IT'S HAVING AND THEN MOST
IMPORTANTLY THE STRATEGIES THAT
CAN REALLY HELP RIGHT NOW.
>> WE KNOW THE CDC RECENTLY
ISSUED A REPORT CONNECTING OUR
PANDEMIC STRESS TO TRAUMA.
IT FOUND THE NUMBER OF ADULTS
REPORTING ANXIETY AND
DEPRESSION HAS ACTUALLY DOUBLED
SINCE THE PANDEMIC.
SALLY MCDANIEL IS A LICENSED
MEDICAL HEALTH COUNSELOR FOR
GREATER LAKES MENTAL HEALTH
CARE, WHICH IS A NONPROFIT IN
PIERCE COUNTY.
SALLY, YOU JUST WANT TO THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS
MORNING.
FIRST OF ALL, YOU KNOW WE'RE
ALL STRUGGLING WITH THE
PANDEMIC, RIGHT?
>> IS THERE A SCIENTIFIC
EXPLANATION FOR WHY THIS IS SO
HARD?
WELL, I MEAN OUR BODIES ARE
HARDWIRED TO REACT TO STRESS
AND WAVE MEANT TO PROTECT US
AGAINST THREATS FROM PREDATORS
OR AGGRESSION AND THIS ONGOING
STRESS REALLY WREAKS HAVOC ON
OUR BODIES.
MEAN ALL SYSTEMS WHETHER IT'S
RESPIRATORY DIGESTIVE SYSTEM,
MENTAL HEALTH.
>> SO LONG TERM PROLONGED
STRESS REALLY HAS A SIGNIFICANT
IMPACT.
>> SO KIND OF LIKE THE FIGHT,
THE FIGHT OR FLIGHT FEELING
THAT PEOPLE GET SOMETIMES.
>> EXACTLY.
EXACTLY.
EVEN THE MINOR HASSLES AND
DEMANDS THAT WE HAVE.
OF EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN GOING
ON WITH THE PANDEMIC ARE
CONSIDERED A THREAT AT THIS
POINT TO OUR BODIES AND OUR
BODY REAX IN THE FIGHT OR
FLIGHT.
AND WHILE WE STAY IN CONSTANT
FIGHT OR FLIGHT MODE, SOME
OF OUR SYSTEMS START TO SHUT
DOWN.
>> YEAH, THAT TOTALLY MAKES
SENSE TO ME AND I'M SURE TO
OTHER PEOPLE AT HOME.
>> HOW DO YOU HOW DO WE
COPE WITH OUR STRESS AND THE
FEELINGS
FEELINGS ABOUT THAT? YOU KNOW, TELL US WHAT YOU TELL YOUR CLIENTS.
>> WELL, THERE ARE THREE THINGS
THAT WE NEED TO DO BECOMING
AWARE, BEING MINDFUL AND
OFFERING YOURSELF FORGIVENESS
IS REALLY A GOOD PLACE TO START
AWARENESS.
YOU KNOW, REALLY KNOW KNOWING
OUR BASELINE WHAT'S NORMAL FOR
A YOU KNOW, WHAT'S OUR NORMAL
BEDTIME ROUTINE, OUR NORMAL
EATING ROUTINE, OUR NORMAL
SHOPPING ROUTINE, THE NORMAL
SOCIAL OUTLET THAT WE HAVE AND
PEOPLE THAT WE'RE CONNECTED
WITH START TRACKING THAT TO
FIND OUT IF THINGS ARE CHANGING
,BEING MINDFUL AND MOVING BACK
TO A ROUTINE YOU KNOW, CREATING
A NORMAL SCHEDULE, GOING TO BED
AND WAKING UP.
>> I MEAN REALLY WELL WE CAN'T
GET OUTSIDE.
WE TEND TO JUST KIND OF STAY IN
OUR PAJAMAS OR OUR SWEATS ALL
DAY BUT REALLY CREATE THAT
ROUTINE OF GETTING LIKE WE DO
HAVE SOMETHING TO DO JUST GIVE
THE SURGE OF ENERGY CREATING
POSITIVE MOMENTS IN IRAQ.
ANY IDEAS ON HOW YOU WOULD SAY
CREATE A POSITIVE MOMENT
BECAUSE THAT SOUNDS AWESOME BUT
IT ALSO SOUNDS A LITTLE VAGUE
LIKE WHAT EXAMPLE DO YOU HAVE
GAME NIGHT WITH FAMILIES,
SCHEDULED OUTINGS WITH FRIENDS
WHETHER IT'S JUST TAKING THE
DOGS FOR A WALK.
>> MEDITATING, PRACTICING SOME
RELAXATION SKILLS.
A LONG BATH.
WORKING IN YOUR YARD.
CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE ON A
WEEKLY BASIS WHETHER IT'S
THROUGH ZOOME.
I KNOW EVERYONE'S GETTING TIRED
OF USING THEM BUT IT STILL
LEADS TO INCREASED UPBEAT
FEELINGS INSIDE YOUR BODY THAT
ARE CLOSER TO NORMAL.
THAT'S A GREAT.
>> THOSE ARE GREAT EXAMPLES.
YOU KNOW I'M THINKING SOME
PEOPLE MIGHT BE AT HOME ROLLING
THEIR EYES OR THEY JUST MIGHT
BE SKEPTICAL OF SOME OF THE
STEPS.
BUT CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THEY DO
WORK AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO
NOTE THAT THIS IS ONGOING WORK
FOR PEOPLE AND AND THEN ALSO
WHEN PEOPLE ASK FOR HELP.
I KNOW I THREW A COUPLE
OF QUESTIONS AT YOU.
>> YEAH, WELL, I MEAN WE'RE THE
WE ALL HAVE A SENSE
OF BELONGING.
WE ALL HAVE A SENSE
OF CONNECTIVITY.
>> AND AS WE HAVE GONE THROUGH
THIS PANDEMIC OVER TIME OUR
SURGE OF ENERGY KEPT GOING UP
AND DOWN.
>> AND IT'S OFTEN LIKE GOING
THROUGH LIFE KNOWING THAT
THERE'S PANTHER WAITING IN THE
TREES AND NOT KNOWING WHEN IT'S
GOING TO POUNCE AND THAT TO
RELIEVE SOME OF THAT INTENSE
ANXIETY AND THAT STRESS REALLY
CHANGING THE MIND AND FOCUSING
ON SOMETHING ELSE REALLY HELPS
RELIEVE THAT STRESS.
BUT IF YOU START NOTICING
YOURSELF TOO YOU KNOW, MEEYA
OFF OUT OF WHACK AND PEOPLE
START RECOGNIZING IT AND MAKING
COMMENTS TO YOU FIRST OF ALL IS
TO JUST SEEK OUT HELP AS SIMPLE
AS ASKING SOME FRIENDS IF THEY
HAPPEN TO HAVE A THERAPIST IF
YOU'RE NOT COMFORTABLE TALKING
TO FRIENDS.
>> THERE IS SEVERAL WEB SITES
LIKE PSYCHOLOGY TODAY AND YOU
COULD LOOK IN YOUR LOCAL AREA.
THE GREAT THING ABOUT SERVICES
RIGHT NOW IS EVERYTHING IS
VIRTUAL.
I MEAN IF YOU REALLY WANT TO
FACE-TO-FACE YOU CAN HAVE THAT.
BUT EVERY DOCTOR, EVERY
PSYCHOLOGIST, EVERY THERAPIST
IS OFFERING VIRTUAL TELEHEALTH
SESSIONS SO YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE
TO LEAVE YOUR HOME WHICH MAKES
IT THAT MUCH EASIER.
>> YEAH.
THAT IS SUCH GREAT ADVICE,
SALLY.
DANIEL WITH THE PIERCE COUNTY
NONPROFIT GREATER LAKES MENTAL