Coping with COVID-19

It’s important to keep our minds healthy in addition to our bodies. However, COVID-19 has had an effect on our mental health in a variety of ways — from causing stress, to cutting us off from friends, family and co-workers. So how can we reduce the impact on our psyche? This week we chatted with Susan Peek, a long-time Red Crosser currently volunteering with Disaster Mental Health, about COVID coping tips to help keep our mental wellbeing healthy.

 

 Keeping in Contact

“We need to change the language around ‘social distancing’,” Susan says. “Social distancing” sends the wrong message: it’s isolating and imprecise. A better term, she says, is “physical distancing,” because maintaining contact with friends and family remains crucial. Picking up the phone and calling loved ones can go a long way toward not only helping your mental health, but that of those you’re talking to, too.

Practicing Grounding

Next up is grounding, a technique where you anchor yourself with facts to allay fears. In practical terms, Susan recommends limiting yourself to reputable sources of information about the virus like the Red Cross, or the World Health Organization. Grounding works by challenging negative thinking, allowing you to “take a step back”, which helps reduce fears and worries.

Nailing down a Routine

Maintaining a routine helps give you structure and lessens your day-to-day mental load. It can be hard to keep to a routine during a lockdown, but Susan strongly recommends it as a COVID coping tip. At the same time, it can be difficult to “switch off” from a routine, which is why Susan recommends…

Remembering Self-Care

One thing we hear a lot from people working from home is that it’s tough to set boundaries. “I’m already working on the couch all day, what’s an hour more?” Let’s dump that mindset, Susan recommends, and practice more self-care! Self-care can take many forms, but boils down to a fundamental question: what do I need to feel good? From a walk in the sun amongst some fresh scenery to an elongated coffee break, it’s important to be looking out for our feelings and emotions during a crisis.

 

In addition to keeping ourselves healthy and safe, it’s important to also consider our mental wellbeing by applying Susan’s tips: staying in contact with our loved ones, grounding ourselves, building a routine, and practicing self-care. Additional coping tips are available on our website. On that note, it’s proven that altruism can help our mental health by giving us positive feelings — have you booked your next blood donation?

Story by: Tim Snedden, Communications Volunteer
American Red Cross, Western New York Region

Donating In Honor of Natalie and Lauren

Natalie and Lauren Wolniewicz received 30
blood transfusions.

On April 1, a very special blood drive took place in Springville, about half an hour south of Buffalo. The community turned out to show their support at a time when blood donations are urgently needed. 

It was in honor of Natalie and Lauren Wolniewicz: Now 2 years old, the twins were born 16 weeks early.  During the five months Natalie and Lauren spent in newborn intensive care, they received a total of 30 blood transfusions from donors.

The twins’ mother, Julie Wolniewicz, is new to volunteering with the American Red Cross.

“I’d donated blood in the past,” Julie told me, “but I’d never really considered that blood transfusions were for babies too.”

After a nurse mentioned Red Cross blood drives this February, Julie sprang into action. Setting up a blood drive, she reasoned, was the perfect opportunity to help out the community during a time of need.

Photos courtesy: Julie Wolniewicz

She dived in, organizing the upcoming drive with Mary Lattimer and Andrew Chung from Western New York’s Red Cross. One month later, and the Springville blood drive was fully booked.

Julie found that setting up the blood drive was an easy experience. Resources were simple to find and Red Cross staff were enthusiastic to help. Even more eager than usual, perhaps — nearly 10,000 blood drives have been canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak, representing 300,000 fewer donations collected.  In order to ensure blood products are available to all who need them, maintaining supply is crucial.

Safety and infection control are the highest priorities of the Red Cross at blood drives. Everyone’s temperatures are checked before the drive, social distancing guidelines are observed, hand sanitizer is readily available, and surfaces are regularly disinfected. With a blood transfusion needed every two seconds in the U.S, blood donations remain a constant necessity.

Root 39 Event Center in Springville, NY

Julie’s blood drive was already fully booked by the weekend before. In spite of the outbreak, Springville’s community came together, while still keeping their distance. They filtered into Root 39 — a refurbished barn that makes for a beautiful event space — to give back a little in honor of Lauren and Natalie.

And now, at two years old, the twins are growing fast. The future looks bright for Lauren and Natalie Wolniewicz, and Julie reckons they’ll start causing trouble soon enough.

You can help kids like Natalie and Lauren by donating blood. Make an appointment for your next donation with the Red Cross today.

-Tim Snedden
American Red Cross Communications Volunteer