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Coping with Coronavirus: Stay healthy, reach out

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From Sharon Steinborn, MA, LMFT, of the Anxiety Treatment Center of the Southwest (575-405-7992, www.anxietyistreatable.com):

  • Use the media to educate, rather than obsessively checking the latest stories, which can create panic. Go to sites that speak directly to management of the Coronavirus and the latest news, such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Limit your time on the media, i.e., check one or two times daily. Limit children from social media during this time to better manage their own anxiety.
  • Manage isolation and quarantine by remaining connected to others through phone contact, Skype, Facetime. Human beings do not do well in complete isolation.
  • Create a home environment that is safe and secure, especially for children, to combat the outside chaos.
  • Utilize techniques to bring down your anxiety, such as mindfulness. You can go on YouTube and listen to guided meditations, sounds of water, rain, etc.
  • Use this time for selfcare. Catch up on reading, watch a good movie, take a warm bath and rest as much as possible.
  • Understand that although this is a scary time for everyone, it is also time limited. This will not last forever. Hang in there.
  • And most importantly, become more connected to your own humanity – take care of others and yourself.

From Jamie Michael, director of the Doña Ana County Health and Human Services Department:

Taking steps to reduce your stress is critically important. If you are following advice to keep you and your family safe, such as social distancing, don’t worry about the things you cannot control.

Keep your immune system as strong as possible by getting enough sleep, eating nutritious foods, exercising at home or doing other activities you can enjoy in your home.

Reach out to friends and family through text or phone calls to stay connected or call the NM Crisis Line or Warm Line to talk with someone if you are feeling anxious. Counselors are available 24/7 through the Crisis and Access Line to help community members experiencing mental health concerns: 855-662-7474. Visit www.nmcrisisline.com.

Stay healthy at home. Visit the websites of local businesses like Dwell Yoga (www.dwellwithinyoga.com) and Indigo Yoga (https://indigolascruces.com/) for helpful videos.

From Lonnie Klein, music director, Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra (www.lascrucessymphony.com):

“You can get on the internet and type in virtually anything, from the New York Philharmonic to Led Zeppelin. Kids can access really good music on the internet.”

Classical composers like Beethoven and Mozart overcame incredible obstacles in their lives. Beethoven, for example, was hearing impaired from his mid-20s “and for the rest of his career he could not hear anything” as he composed some of the world’s greatest music.

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky suffered with serious mental health issues as he composed the “Nutcracker,” “Swan Lake” and “Sleeping Beauty” ballets. Mozart died a pauper. “Tell these stories to kids and try to impress on them the obstacles they had,” Klein said. “If you make it personal … and then play the music of these composers, kids will recognize it.”

From Las Cruces artist Jan Hampton:

Lee Holden, a Qi Gong (“energy work”) instructor in California, is providing these excellent videos free during this potentially stressful time. I highly recommend them, especially the 23-minute immunity video and the 12-minute healing sounds meditation. Visit https://secure.holdenqigong.com/immunity-emergency-kit.

From New Mexico Department of Game and Fish:

The NMGFD offers educational activities for youth and families. New Mexico wildlife and wildlife management lessons can be downloaded at www.wildlife.state.nm.us/education/conservation-education/discover-new-mexico. Customers seeking general information, including license sales and harvest reporting, can still reach NMDGF at 505-476-8000 or toll-free at 1-888-248-6866 and by email at ispa@state.nm.us or online at www.wildlife.state.nm.us.

From the U.S. Bureau of Land Management:

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management will temporarily suspend the collection of all entrance fees until further notice. As a result, site-specific standard amenity and day-use fees at BLM recreation sites and areas will be waived for the foreseeable future. Other fees, such as overnight camping, cabin rentals, group day use, and use of special areas, will remain in effect.

Other states and municipalities have implemented similar policies waiving fees to parks, refuges and other public recreation sites in an effort to support social distancing.

Updates about the BLM response to the coronavirus will be posted on www.blm.gov. For more information, visit www.blm.gov/programs/recreation and www.recreation.gov.

From Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and state government department leaders:

  • Make an appointment to donate blood. While blood infusions are not routine treatment for COVID-19, they are essential to treating trauma and cancer, among other things. Visit http://bloodbanker.com/banks/state.php?state=NM for a list of New Mexico blood banks, including three in Las Cruces.
  • Volunteer. To find out how to volunteer, call the state’s general information hotline, 1-833-551-0518, and press 8.
  • Volunteer to help the elderly. Assist the New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department in providing food and services to New Mexico seniors. Email ALTSD-Volunteers@state.nm.us with the subject Line: READY TO HELP In the email, identify the city/town you reside in and your phone number. The agency will then respond with more information.
  • Check on vulnerable acquaintances. Help a neighbor or acquaintance who may have to self-isolate or quarantine, especially elderly people, people with disabilities or long-term health conditions, and those who do not have family nearby. Help could involve running errands, making phone calls or just providing a friendly voice of reassurance.
  • Selfcare. You’re doing everything you can to protect yourself, your family and your community from COVID-19, so relax. Stressing over what might happen does no good and can reduce your immune system's ability to fight off antigens, making you more susceptible to infection. Instead, focus on eating healthfully, staying hydrated, getting some exercise (jumping jacks or sit-ups don’t require a gym), practicing relaxation techniques and staying in touch with friends and family via non-face-to-face options like FaceTime.

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