Coping with Stress from the CDC

 

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html

Pandemics can be stressful

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a new disease and what could happen can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Public health actions, such as social distancing, can make people feel isolated and lonely and can increase stress and anxiety. However, these actions are necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Coping with stress in a healthy way will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger.

 

Stress during an infectious disease outbreak can sometimes cause the following:

• Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones, your financial situation or job, or loss of support services you rely on.
• Changes in sleep or eating patterns.
• Difficulty sleeping or concentrating.
• Worsening of chronic health problems.
• Worsening of mental health conditions.
• Increased use of tobacco, and/or alcohol and other substances.

hand holding heart light icon

Take care of your mental health

You may experience increased stress during this pandemic. Fear and anxiety can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions.

Get immediate help in a crisis

• Call 911
• Disaster Distress Helplineexternal icon: 1-800-985-5990 (press 2 for Spanish), or text TalkWithUs for English or Hablanos for Spanish to 66746. Spanish speakers from Puerto Rico can text Hablanos to 1-787-339-2663.
• National Suicide Prevention Lifelineexternal icon: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for English, 1-888-628-9454 for Spanish, or Lifeline Crisis Chatexternal icon.
• National Domestic Violence Hotlineexternal icon: 1-800-799-7233 or text LOVEIS to 22522
• National Child Abuse Hotlineexternal icon: 1-800-4AChild (1-800-422-4453) or text 1-800-422-4453
• National Sexual Assault Hotlineexternal icon: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or Online Chatexternal icon
• The Eldercare Locatorexternal icon: 1-800-677-1116  TTY Instructionsexternal icon
• Veteran’s Crisis Lineexternal icon: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or Crisis Chatexternal icon or text: 8388255

Find a health care provider or treatment for substance use disorder and mental health

• SAMHSA’s National Helplineexternal icon: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) and TTY 1-800-487-4889
• Treatment Services Locator Websiteexternal icon
• Interactive Map of Selected Federally Qualified Health Centersexternal icon

Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations

How you respond to stress during the COVID-19 pandemic can depend on your background, your social support from family or friends, your financial situation, your health and emotional background, the community you live in, and many other factors. The changes that can happen because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ways we try to contain the spread of the virus can affect anyone.

People who may respond more strongly to the stress of a crisis include:

• People who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 (for example, older people, and people of any age with certain underlying medical conditions).
• Children and teens.
• People caring for family members or loved ones.
• Frontline workers such as health care providers and first responders,
• Essential workers who work in the food industry.
• People who have existing mental health conditions.
• People who use substances or have a substance use disorder.
• People who have lost their jobs, had their work hours reduced, or had other major changes to their employment.
• People who have disabilities or developmental delay.
• People who are socially isolated from others, including people who live alone, and people in rural or frontier areas.
• People in some racial and ethnic minority groups.
• People who do not have access to information in their primary language.
• People experiencing homelessness.
• People who live in congregate (group) settings.

Take care of yourself and your community

Taking care of your friends and your family can be a stress reliever, but it should be balanced with care for yourself. Helping others cope with their stress, such as by providing social support, can also make your community stronger. During times of increased social distancing, people can still maintain social connections and care for their mental health. Phone calls or video chats can help you and your loved ones feel socially connected, less lonely, or isolated.

Healthy ways to cope with stress

• Know what to do if you are sick and are concerned about COVID-19. Contact a health professional before you start any self-treatment for COVID-19.
• Know where and how to get treatment and other support services and resources, including counseling or therapy (in person or through telehealth services).
• Take care of your emotional health. Taking care of your emotional health will help you think clearly and react to the urgent needs to protect yourself and your family.
• Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including those on social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.
• Take care of your body.
  • Take deep breaths, stretch, or  meditateexternal icon.
  • Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals.
  • Exercise regularly.
  • Get plenty of sleep.
  • Avoid excessive alcohol and drug use.
• Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.
• Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.
• Connect with your community- or faith-based organizations. While social distancing measures are in place, consider connecting online, through social media, or by phone or mail.

Know the facts to help reduce stress

Knowing the facts about COVID-19 and stopping the spread of rumors can help reduce stress and stigma. Understanding the risk to yourself and people you care about can help you connect with others and make an outbreak less stressful.

Take care of your mental health

Mental health is an important part of overall health and wellbeing. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It may also affect how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices during an emergency.

People with pre-existing mental health conditions or substance use disorders may be particularly vulnerable in an emergency. Mental health conditions (such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia) affect a person’s thinking, feeling, mood or behavior in a way that influences their ability to relate to others and function each day. These conditions may be situational (short-term) or long-lasting (chronic). People with preexisting mental health conditions should continue with their treatment and be aware of new or worsening symptoms. If you think you have new or worse symptoms, call your healthcare provider.

Call your healthcare provider if stress gets in the way of your daily activities for several days in a row. Free and confidential resources can also help you or a loved one connect with a skilled, trained counselor in your area.

Get immediate help in a crisis

• Call 911
• Disaster Distress Helplineexternal icon: 1-800-985-5990 (press 2 for Spanish), or text TalkWithUs for English or Hablanos for Spanish to 66746. Spanish speakers from Puerto Rico can text Hablanos to 1-787-339-2663.
• National Suicide Prevention Lifelineexternal icon: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for English, 1-888-628-9454 for Spanish, or Lifeline Crisis Chatexternal icon.
• National Domestic Violence Hotlineexternal icon: 1-800-799-7233 or text LOVEIS to 22522
• National Child Abuse Hotlineexternal icon: 1-800-4AChild (1-800-422-4453) or text 1-800-422-4453
• National Sexual Assault Hotlineexternal icon: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or Online Chat external icon
• The Eldercare Locatorexternal icon: 1-800-677-1116  TTY Instructionsexternal icon
• Veteran’s Crisis Lineexternal icon: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or Crisis Chatexternal icon or text: 8388255

Find a health care provider or treatment for substance use disorder and mental health

• SAMHSA’s National Helplineexternal icon: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) and TTY 1-800-487-4889
• Treatment Services Locator Website external icon
• Interactive Map of Selected Federally Qualified Health Centersexternal icon

Suicide

Different life experiences affect a person’s risk for suicide. For example, suicide risk is higher among people who have experienced violence, including child abuse, bullying, or sexual violence. Feelings of isolation, depression, anxiety, and other emotional or financial stresses are known to raise the risk for suicide. People may be more likely to experience these feelings during a crisis like a pandemic.

However, there are ways to protect against suicidal thoughts and behaviors. For example, support from family and community, or feeling connected, and having access to in-person or virtual counseling or therapy can help with suicidal thoughts and behavior, particularly during a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Learn more about CDC’s work in suicide prevention.

Other Resources:

• National Suicide Prevention Lifelineexternal icon: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for English, 1-888-628-9454 for Spanish, or Lifeline Crisis Chatexternal icon.
• SAMHSA Suicide Preventionexternal icon
• Suicide Risk Factors and Warning Signsexternal icon
• Five Action Steps for Communicating with Someone Who May Be Suicidalexternal icon

Recovering from COVID-19 or ending home isolation

It can be stressful to be separated from others if you have or were exposed to COVID-19. Each person ending a period of home isolation may feel differently about it.

Emotional reactions may include:

• Mixed emotions, including relief.
• Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones.
• Stress from the experience of having COVID-19 and monitoring yourself, or being monitored by others.
• Sadness, anger, or frustration because friends or loved ones have fears of getting the disease from you, even though you are cleared to be around others.
• Guilt about not being able to perform normal work or parenting duties while you had COVID-19.
• Worry about getting re-infected or sick again even though you’ve already had COVID-19.
• Other emotional or mental health changes.

Children may also feel upset or have other strong emotions if they, or someone they know, has COVID-19, even if they are now better and able to be around others again.

Special Education Update

Special Education Update

On March 16, 2020, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy issued an Executive Order which, among many other things, closed schools and moved education to home-schooling and online learning. This included Special Education services. Governor Murphy has since announced that Extended School Year (ESY) will be permitted to take place in-person beginning on July 6th, and the state has outlined specific guidelines to ensure the safety of all students, staff, and families. Please note that schools are deciding on an individual basis whether or not they will have in-person or virtual ESY. Since the stay-at-home order, we have heard from thousands of families with students in special education who are struggling to provide learning opportunities to their children and effectively deal with the lack of support services and therapies their child would typically receive each day. It has been an extremely challenging time for all the families. https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2020/jun/12/Providing%20Additional%20Services%20for%20Students%20with%20Disabilities%20Who%20Will%20Graduate%20or%20Exceed%20Eligibility%20for%20Special%20Education%20Services.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3YnL0GsOFPZUd5_hEHSodFrbDsOijstNQP0HvL1Tbj_uxdiudwVKUr-X4 https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2020/jun/12/Guidance%20for%20Summer%20Learning%20Programs.pdf

When it Comes Time to Ration Health Care, What Will People with Disabilities Receive?

When it Comes Time to Ration Health Care, What Will People with Disabilities Receive? As the sun beams through the window on a beautifully warm spring day in May 2020, doctors at the regional medical center are dealing with three new critically ill COVID-19 patients.  An otherwise healthy 35-year-old parent of 2 young children.  A successful 45-year-old Wall Street executive.  A highly decorated 38-year-old Special Olympics athlete with Down Syndrome and who is also a beloved employee at a local retail establishment.  All three are now in respiratory distress and will soon require a ventilator to breathe.  The hospital’s exhausted ICU doctors turn to look at each other with agony in their eyes and despair on their faces because they know the hospital only has two ventilators available and they must decide which patient will... We all watch as the number of reported COVID-19 cases rise.  We all watch as the number of reported COVID-19 deaths rise too.  At some point in all this, although we are not sure when, “flattening the curve” has become a common phrase in our lives.  We learn of news accounts from around the world where health care is rationed, patients triaged, and harsh bright line criteria are used to decide who gets treated... and who is left to die.  We watch doctors and governors beg for ventilators on national television.  We shake our heads and say to ourselves, “they can’t possibly ration healthcare here” and we hope and pray we are right.   In the meantime, states are beginning to develop disaster preparedness plans and doomsday scenarios with respect to dispensing limited healthcare resources as cases continue to climb.  Late last week, New Jersey began this process too when it created a bioethics panel to evaluate what to do if the demand for resources exceeds available supply.   Where will people with disabilities be counted in this process?  Worse yet: what if they are not? Over the weekend the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued a bulletin reminding officials and covered entities, like health care providers, of laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, and religion.  According to OCR such anti-discrimination provisions apply to the provision of health care services during COVID-19.  Accordingly, people with disabilities cannot be denied medical care based on stereotype or a subjective assessment of the quality of a person’s life.  Treatment decisions must be made on objective medical criteria only.   However, some State plans indicate, “persons with severe mental retardation, advanced dementia or severe traumatic brain injury may be poor candidates for ventilator support.”  While such provisions are clearly illegal, we cannot allow such explicit or implicit language to find its way into New Jersey’s Bioethics Plan.  Our founding partner, Herb Hinkle, argued leading bioethics cases in the courts and served as a consultant to New Jersey’s Bioethics Commission.   It is important for parents, families and disability advocates to be heard – and heard quickly because no one has the luxury of time right now.  We must demand policymakers include language in whatever plan is ultimately developed which specifically prohibits the consideration of disability, stereotyped utilitarian assessments, or other discriminatory factors when making difficult heath care decisions.  We must say to our policymakers and government officials:  “Don’t leave us behind.”  “Don’t give up on us.”  “Our lives matter.” Please contact the New Jersey Commissioner of Health, Judith M. Persichilli, at 609-292-7838, Governor Phil Murphy at 609-292-6000, and your State Legislators which can be found at https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/legsearch.asp.   While we still can, this is the time for parents and families to raise awareness and to advocate as a community for New Jersey’s most vulnerable.   FIND YOUR NJ STATE LEGISLTORS NOW

ABOUT OUR FIRM Hinkle Prior & Fischer is a full service disability law firm. Our entire practice focuses on serving people with disabilities and their families.   CONTACT US 2651 Main Street Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 (609) 896-4200 (215) 860-2100   Offices: Lawrenceville • Cherry Hill • Florham Park • Paramus • Wall Disclaimer: Information contained in this publication is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for legal services.

The Stimulus Package of 2020 is Very Unfair to the Poorest Americans

The Stimulus Package of 2020 is very unfair to the poorest, most vulnerable Americans.  Single parents, which are for the most part single mothers, are shortchanged.  Why are kids 17 and over not included in the Stimulus?  If a parent claims a child 17 years and older on their taxes, they do not get the $500.00 allowed for parents with children 16 and under. 

Some of these children, 17 years and older, are disabled.  Many also have deadbeat fathers and now, due to this virus, it will be more prevalent.  These families will suffer more from the unfairness which excludes them from their child getting any stimulus.  All children, 17 and older, especially the school age kids, need as much or more than children 16 and under.  Why are they excluded from the stimulus?  This is wrong.

Also, the States are allowing more in Snap benefits to people with higher incomes who get lower Snap benefits.  They are now giving the full amount of Snap to these people. 

Why not give more to the recipients who have low income and full Snap benefits?  It is a misconception that all people on some Government assistance are on all the programs the government has to offer.  Some people on Snap live only on SSI and/or part-time work and the money goes mostly to their rent and utilities.  The Snap benefit is their only way of having a meal because their SSI and/or part-time job leave them with no disposable income.  Many SSI recipients are developmentally disabled, some suffered extreme mental and/or physical abuse, some are seriously physically disabled or cognitively impaired, some are medically debilitated, some are disabled vets, etc.  These are the poorest Americans who suffered very disadvantaged lives.

Right now the cost of food is astronomical.  Because of the people hoarding food and not eating out, the supermarkets only have the more expensive food items in stock.  The cost of food shopping has increased 2-4 times what it used to be before Covid-19 started just a few weeks ago.  So, why are the poorest and most vulnerable Americans not getting more food assistance?  Why are just those with higher incomes and more disposable incomes getting more food assistance? 

Thank You To All The Staff Working With The Developmentally Disabled During The Covid-19 Pandemic

Giving a great big Thank You to all the Staff working hard in Group Homes who are risking themselves for the Developmentally Disabled Clients during this stressful time with the Covid-19 Virus Outbreak.

This is a very difficult time for all of us, but the Developmentally Disabled have had their schedules disrupted for an unknown period of time. Many of these children and adults can not conform to the rules to avoid getting the virus, like avoiding touching the face and mouth, etc. Some kids have skin picking issues which is a common problem exposing them even more so to infections. Some have behavior issues needing close contact. Some are medically frail and need treatments and medications.

Staff are working extra hard through this outbreak to make sure everyone is safe, fed, and taken care of. We appreciate all you do, especially because being in this field requires a person who really cares. Thank you for helping our kids.