[JJJ]

Updated from the mother ship today:

There's actually more than this excerpt:

Guide to self-care: Coping with coronavirus
March 13, 2020
By Lane McKenna and the BeWell staff
As Stanford works to reduce the spread of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus), it is also important that we each take care of ourselves in every possible way and that we assist in individual and community efforts to prevent further spread of this virus.
While this BeWell guide summarizes important medical facts and strategies, we lead with the issue of how to cope with the anxiety and mental stress that many are experiencing in this difficult time.
Staying calm, managing anxiety
Even on a “normal day” in history, emotional stress can prove very challenging. So add in COVID-19, and it’s really tough. How can we stay calmer and make wiser choices?
Firstly, bear in mind that as COVID-19 news spreads, it has created heightened stress for many of us. (For others, it has added to existing anxieties.) As James Kendall, LCSW, CEAP, of Vanderbilt University states, “sensationalized stories add to our angst and panic. The stock market has responded with a downturn, and many are unsure whether to travel or attend social gatherings. It may be similar to our response to other stressful world events: HIV, H1N1, SARS, mass shootings and 9/11.” It may therefore be wise for some to limit news overexposure: Sensational news stories can perpetuate unnecessary anxiety.
On the other hand, staying educated means something more than just watching TV news:

• See healthalerts.stanford.edu for updated information on Stanford’s response to COVID-19.
  
• If you are a Stanford employee, review and bookmark these important guides: Information for staff and Information for faculty and researchers (from healthalerts.stanford.edu).
  

To help your state of mind as you process current events, we hope the following advice from several Stanford experts will also prove helpful:
Self-care: The gift that keeps on giving
Tending to your emotional health
Rough day: Be grateful
As was recently summed by in an recent article published by The Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley:
“One way is to use whatever tools you have at your disposal for keeping a cool head — like practicing mindfulness, which has been shown to both lessen emotional reactivity and help us make better decisions. We might take a walk in the park or nearby woods and let nature soothe us. Or we could talk to a friend — a calm friend, that is — who can help us reduce our anxiety. Of course, our normal ways of connecting socially — like singing together at a concert or going to large parties — may have to change. But whatever we can do to maintain an air of calm, and to spread it to those around us, the better. After all, our emotions tend to be contagious in our social circles, and we should do our best to keep fear and panic contained.”
Lastly, BeWell has also long advocated that each of us carve out “alone time” — enhanced even more when combined with fresh air and exercise. Simplistic as this may sound, now more than ever, this strategy is a useful tool. Take yourself away — both physically and mentally — from coronavirus for at least a while by going out for a run or long walk, alone.
See:
Runners on running at Stanford
Why walk?
[b]Still having difficulty with emotional stress?[/b]

• Faculty, staff, and postdocs can contact the HELP Center at 723-4577.  All scheduled sessions are being held remotely (Zoom).
  
• Santa Clara County maintains an anonymous crisis line that is available 24 hours, 7 days a week, at 1-800-704-0900 (Mental Health Services). 
  
• SAMHSA’s Distress Helpline (related to any natural or human-caused disaster) is accessible 24/7 at 1-800-985-5990 or via text (send TALKWITHUS to 66746; Press 2 for Spanish).
  

 Do what you can to help prevent the spread of the virus  
Within the healthalerts.stanford.edu website, Stanford has a list of preventative strategies that include:

• Get a flu shot. We strongly recommend that everyone obtain seasonal flu vaccination. (While it will not prevent COVID-19, influenza is currently in widespread circulation in California, and initial symptoms can be similar to novel coronavirus.) Members of the Stanford community can contact the SU Occupational Health Center (Stanford employees) or go to Vaden Health Center (Stanford students) to get a flu shot.
  
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  
• Don’t share food and drinks.
  
• Clean and disinfect shared surfaces and objects that are touched frequently (e.g. door knobs, desks, phones).
  
• If you can, avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms.
  

On “social distancing”: Take that as far as you can
Expanding on the recommendation to “avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms,” physicians speaking at the March 11 Stanford Department of Grand Rounds pointed to “the 6-feet rule,” otherwise known as social distancing, or the strategy of maintaining a minimum of 6 feet between yourself and any other individual. Why?  When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.
Going beyond social distancing
While clearly it is not BeWell’s nor Stanford’s job to tell you how to live your life outside of work or our campuses, readers may be interested in Stanford Medicine’s advice regarding COVID-19 as it pertains to community spread. Quite simply, the advice is not to get on an airplane, and even to avoid groups of people altogether. While it may be emotionally challenging to cancel a family reunion or other large gathering, the risks are considerable. See Stanford’s Self-Isolation Guidelines.

https://healthalerts.stanford.edu/2020/0...ronavirus/

[JJJ]

Updated from the mother ship today:

There's actually more than this excerpt:

Guide to self-care: Coping with coronavirus
March 13, 2020
By Lane McKenna and the BeWell staff
As Stanford works to reduce the spread of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus), it is also important that we each take care of ourselves in every possible way and that we assist in individual and community efforts to prevent further spread of this virus.
While this BeWell guide summarizes important medical facts and strategies, we lead with the issue of how to cope with the anxiety and mental stress that many are experiencing in this difficult time.
Staying calm, managing anxiety
Even on a “normal day” in history, emotional stress can prove very challenging. So add in COVID-19, and it’s really tough. How can we stay calmer and make wiser choices?
Firstly, bear in mind that as COVID-19 news spreads, it has created heightened stress for many of us. (For others, it has added to existing anxieties.) As James Kendall, LCSW, CEAP, of Vanderbilt University states, “sensationalized stories add to our angst and panic. The stock market has responded with a downturn, and many are unsure whether to travel or attend social gatherings. It may be similar to our response to other stressful world events: HIV, H1N1, SARS, mass shootings and 9/11.” It may therefore be wise for some to limit news overexposure: Sensational news stories can perpetuate unnecessary anxiety.
On the other hand, staying educated means something more than just watching TV news:

• See healthalerts.stanford.edu for updated information on Stanford’s response to COVID-19.
  
• If you are a Stanford employee, review and bookmark these important guides: Information for staff and Information for faculty and researchers (from healthalerts.stanford.edu).
  

To help your state of mind as you process current events, we hope the following advice from several Stanford experts will also prove helpful:
Self-care: The gift that keeps on giving
Tending to your emotional health
Rough day: Be grateful
As was recently summed by in an recent article published by The Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley:
“One way is to use whatever tools you have at your disposal for keeping a cool head — like practicing mindfulness, which has been shown to both lessen emotional reactivity and help us make better decisions. We might take a walk in the park or nearby woods and let nature soothe us. Or we could talk to a friend — a calm friend, that is — who can help us reduce our anxiety. Of course, our normal ways of connecting socially — like singing together at a concert or going to large parties — may have to change. But whatever we can do to maintain an air of calm, and to spread it to those around us, the better. After all, our emotions tend to be contagious in our social circles, and we should do our best to keep fear and panic contained.”
Lastly, BeWell has also long advocated that each of us carve out “alone time” — enhanced even more when combined with fresh air and exercise. Simplistic as this may sound, now more than ever, this strategy is a useful tool. Take yourself away — both physically and mentally — from coronavirus for at least a while by going out for a run or long walk, alone.
See:
Runners on running at Stanford
Why walk?
[b]Still having difficulty with emotional stress?[/b]

• Faculty, staff, and postdocs can contact the HELP Center at 723-4577.  All scheduled sessions are being held remotely (Zoom).
  
• Santa Clara County maintains an anonymous crisis line that is available 24 hours, 7 days a week, at 1-800-704-0900 (Mental Health Services). 
  
• SAMHSA’s Distress Helpline (related to any natural or human-caused disaster) is accessible 24/7 at 1-800-985-5990 or via text (send TALKWITHUS to 66746; Press 2 for Spanish).
  

 Do what you can to help prevent the spread of the virus  
Within the healthalerts.stanford.edu website, Stanford has a list of preventative strategies that include:

• Get a flu shot. We strongly recommend that everyone obtain seasonal flu vaccination. (While it will not prevent COVID-19, influenza is currently in widespread circulation in California, and initial symptoms can be similar to novel coronavirus.) Members of the Stanford community can contact the SU Occupational Health Center (Stanford employees) or go to Vaden Health Center (Stanford students) to get a flu shot.
  
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  
• Don’t share food and drinks.
  
• Clean and disinfect shared surfaces and objects that are touched frequently (e.g. door knobs, desks, phones).
  
• If you can, avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms.
  

On “social distancing”: Take that as far as you can
Expanding on the recommendation to “avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms,” physicians speaking at the March 11 Stanford Department of Grand Rounds pointed to “the 6-feet rule,” otherwise known as social distancing, or the strategy of maintaining a minimum of 6 feet between yourself and any other individual. Why?  When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.
Going beyond social distancing
While clearly it is not BeWell’s nor Stanford’s job to tell you how to live your life outside of work or our campuses, readers may be interested in Stanford Medicine’s advice regarding COVID-19 as it pertains to community spread. Quite simply, the advice is not to get on an airplane, and even to avoid groups of people altogether. While it may be emotionally challenging to cancel a family reunion or other large gathering, the risks are considerable. See Stanford’s Self-Isolation Guidelines.

https://healthalerts.stanford.edu/2020/0...ronavirus/