Connected by Quarantine
The world can seem like an impossibly large and diverse place, yet we now face a stark reminder of how close and connected we all are. It took a quarantine to show the importance of our connections.
As of this writing, the coronavirus known technically as SARS-CoV-2 has infected a known 350,000 people worldwide, leading to travel restrictions, border closings, shelter in place orders, and in the worst hit places, lock-downs and curfews. This pandemic has made two things crystal clear: we are a globally interwoven and interdependent species that needs to learn how to face common threats together, and that we require social contact for our mental health and well-being.
A viral outbreak that possibly started in Wuhan, China (most likely due to the slaughter and consumption of wild/exotic animals) has now become a global pandemic. This virus is something to be taken seriously; it is 10 to 30 times more deadly than influenza (the flu) and has an incubation period (time between contracting disease and showing symptoms) that is 5 to 14 days long (with the infected person being contagious without even knowing they are sick). Without these efforts at isolation, it could result in the death of millions.
The speed at which this virus has spread across the globe shows how connected we have become. Hundreds of thousands of humans travel internationally every single day. Whether it be for work, pleasure, or seeking a new life, the number of people crisscrossing the globe shows the increasing strength of our physical connections to the planet as a whole.
Unfortunately with shared physical space, comes shared problems.
What happens in one country cannot be expected to stay there anymore. When we are shipping millions of pounds of goods and hundreds of thousands of human bodies over borders in a continuous sea of exchange, we can no longer afford to see issues as being contained behind imaginary borders. We need to strengthen our international agencies and cooperative measures to mirror the physical connections that are already there.
We are one species sharing one planet; this is not a Chinese virus, this is a global virus, a human virus. To stop it in it’s track we are going to need all of humanity working together.
As we see the world respond to this pandemic, we are frightened by watching Italy, where the healthcare system is being overwhelmed, yet enamored by scenes of people singing and playing music to one another across streets from their balconies. We see an outpouring of support from around the world as we all isolate, yet connect with one another electronically. Let us hope we use the internet to speed up how fast we learn from one another, whether it be ways to better treat or isolate the virus, or how to lift our spirits, find fun, and connect with each other, even when being kept apart.
Many of you are currently under shelter in place or quarantine orders, and while the specifics of these orders vary wildly from one place to another, most of us are experiencing some form estrangement from friends, coworkers, loved ones, and society in general. This separation, coupled with the anxiety that comes from both a fear of the unknown and a fear of the constantly reported and rising infected/death tolls, can have a disastrous toll on a persons mental health.
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, know that there are people you can talk to.
Whether it be online or over the phone counseling, there are therapists and other mental health professionals looking to do everything they can for you even with these physical restrictions in place. Know that pharmacies will remain open. Know that you can still call the suicide hotline (1-800-273-8255) or 911 in a mental health emergency.
We may be separated, but many caring people are still here for you.
For those of us whose mental health is in a better state, we still have to find ways in order to maintain our physical and mental health during self-isolation. Start to develop a routine that includes exercise, hobbies, contacting others, or expanding your mind through reading or other art forms. Don’t fall into the trap of constant overeating and streaming TV. While these comforts can provide a necessary decompression from constant worry, they should never fill your day. Find healthy ways to disconnect. Try to discover new hobbies or interests you might have never had the time to try out before.
Let this be a time of growth and reflection instead of worry and self-destruction.
Regardless of the activities you use to pass the time, try to find a way to continue social interaction. Whether it be with the family members in your home, a phone call to a friend or relative, or a conversation online with a stranger, there are many ways we can still provide our minds with the social stimulation it thrives on. Even if we are separated physically, we can find ways to maintain that connection with the world around us. You may not have a balcony, but you can still sing for the world to see.
During these trying times, I ask you to maintain calm mindfulness.
Educate yourself but don’t overwhelm yourself. Maintain safe practices (social distancing, washing your hands, self-isolation if you show symptoms, etc.) but don’t be fooled by the massive amounts of misinformation out there. Show your concern through taking proper actions in this present moment, not by freaking out over what-ifs and apocalyptic predictions. You can maintain a positive and motivated mental state through this crisis and you can increase your social connections at the same time.
Let this pandemic show you how interconnected we truly are; how the issues we face are not isolated by national borders or ethnic makeup. Let this show you the importance of international and diverse cooperation. Let this show you how important social interactions and inter-personal relationships are to your mental health. Let this be a wake-up call to the world that we are all connected, we are all one, and that we must overcome our greatest challenges together.
Stay safe, stay inside, stay calm, stay connected.
Never Stop Living in Wonder.
Leave a Reply