By Meryl Feld / Editor
Many in our community are staying home in an effort to utilize social distancing to stop the spread of COVID-19. Mental health experts believe a lack of social interaction and isolation can negatively impact mental health. One of those experts is Dr. Eric Friedman, a Jewish psychiatrist at the Veteran’s Association Medical Center in Leavenworth, Kansas.
“I hope that everything passes and passes quickly, and we can get back to more living, but this is something that is a real trial for our country,” said Dr. Friedman, who moved to this area this past summer and whose focus is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mood disorders.
“There will definitely be elements of traumatic experiences unfortunately that people will have. PTSD is something we’re looking at that we’ll be dealing with. Not only survivors of the disease, but relatives, friends. It’ll be a societal process. We’ll get through it, but it’s something that I don’t think this country has seen in a long time,” he said.
Combatting stress and isolation
How will we get through this pandemic? Dr. Friedman said the key is self-care, along with caring for our families and for our communities.
“It’s really up to each and every one of us to do our part, not only taking care of ourselves … but also community as well,” he said.
Dr. Friedman said being isolated from friends and having one’s entire life rhythm altered will inevitably increase stress levels. He believes it is important to recognize that everyone reacts differently to stressful situations and that we should be conscious of how we’re doing, as mental health conditions can be exacerbated by extra stress.
“Some of the things that we tell patients is if you’re being quarantined or you’re in lockdown it’s important for your own well-being to occasionally take a break from the news and social media,” he advised. “It’s really important. Don’t keep focusing on it because it can really affect your state of mind. And take care of your body. Whether it’s deep breathing, stretching or meditation.”
The doctor, who has connections with Congregation Beth Shalom and Chabad of Leawood, also recommends keeping up with daily davening despite synagogues being closed as prayer is also a way of “centering yourself in the morning.” In addition, he stressed the importance of eating healthy food, exercise and trying to refrain or cut down on alcohol.
To help make this time more bearable, Dr. Friedman said he encourages people to check in on neighbors and community members, especially those who may be more susceptible to the virus or who may be in need of supplies, and see if you can help in responsible ways.
He said maintaining a schedule is another way to combat the potential negative mental health effects of isolation.
“Make a specific time of day where you can do something you enjoy, such as hobbies or other pastimes, and connect with others,” Dr. Friedman said, adding the internet makes it easy to connect with others and talk to people you trust about concerns.
Resources and warning signs
If people are feeling overwhelmed, or depressed, Dr. Friedman said they should call 911 or a mental health hotline. During this pandemic many health facilities are increasing their telephone and teleconferencing options.
“It’s a really unprecedented situation in the country. … So, everyone’s kind of winging it. But I think there are a lot of good resources out there,” Dr. Friedman said.
One resource is the American Psychiatric Association’s website, which has a variety of resources for addressing different stressors associated with isolation and COVID-19.
According to Dr. Friedman some warning signs to look out for in terms of stress: excessive fear or worry about health, changes in sleep or eating patterns, worsening chronic health problems, overuse of substances (drugs or alcohol) and difficulty with concentration.
Taking care of our children
It is also important to be checking in on the mental health of children during this time. Dr. Friedman said that parents should pay attention to their children’s behavior and look for warning signs that can indicate their mental health needs attention. Those signs may include crying, being more irritable, regressive behaviors, difficulty with attention and vague physical complaints.
Dr. Friedman and his wife Rebecca Zimmerman are the parents of three children, Ezra, Lia and Shai. He encourages parents to pay attention to how their children may be telling them that they’re not doing well. Depending on their age and physical and emotional development, he said children will express things differently. For example, older children may internalize or strike out while younger kids may express things in play. In his family, he noticed his children were pretending to play dead, which provided the opportunity for a discussion about their fears, concerns and need for talking about what is going on.
He noted that for their physical health, parents need to keep their children isolated from the external world. But for their mental health they need to find ways to connect with friends. He suggests video play dates “and things of that nature.”
“You want to keep them in the loop and tell them what’s going on,” but on a level they can understand, he said, adding that keeping a routine is a good idea as well.
Other suggestions to keeping children busy while there’s no school or outside activities can also be found online. Dr. Friedman suggested visiting mother’s groups and looking at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website (cdc.gov).
Dr. Friedman also recommends making sure parents and other adults remain calm around children, as it will make sure they feel more comfortable.
“The main thing for the kids is that they’re going to react to what they see from the adults.”
Moving forward
“This is so out of the realm of what we’ve experienced before, I think the health care system is trying to gird itself for a tidal wave of cases. It’s going to be pretty bad and it’s going to be very intense,” he said. “It’s not like anything I’ve ever seen before.”
Dr. Friedman is in a national COVID-19 physicians Facebook group where medical professionals are sharing their ideas. “It’s really interesting to see. I think people are really scrambling trying to get on top of this. There’s a lot of concern that it’s going to get worse before it gets better.”
Rabbi Beryl Padorr wrote in Ohev Sholom’s weekly newsletter, “We are used to being together physically — to support each other, give a warm supportive glance or hug. Even the “elbow” or “foot” shake is now impossible as we are “off” location. Let’s all do our best to stay in touch with each other and check in on those we know are alone. We use our voices to pray; our calls to each other are a form of answering prayers for those alone, even our friends and family members. Reach out by phone, text, email; it will be a source of comfort for you as well.”
“Regardless of what authorities do, as long as we have the information and we take care of ourselves, that’s the way forward.”
A possible silver lining: “As time goes on, I hope it’ll bring mental health awareness more into the norm,” Dr. Friedman said.