Home quarantine (HQ) is not the kind of vacation we all wanted. The threat of Covid-19 and many other factors in which could be the sources of stress (or trauma for some) is present. As a mental health practitioner, I got this burden to do something while staying at home. I was moved to write this article that could assist people in facing some challenges while in HQ.
We are only on the tenth day of home quarantine. There are twenty days more to endure if it will be lifted as scheduled. Depending on your personality and coping skills, you may or may not enjoying anymore this containment. If you are an indoor and introverted person, this quarantine is something you maximize and enjoy like I do. Unfortunately, some people are already feeling bored or sad about the situation. Home quarantine could be stressful to many that it can cause fear, anxiety and some degree of depression. What can we do to overcome these three major challenges? Here are some of my thoughts.
Fear is common to everyone at this point. There are many different kinds of fears we might be feeling but people in quarantine have this fear of uncertainty. Of course, front liners and those who remained faithful serving their communities also feel the same way. Uncertainty is quite challenging to handle for it means, more often than not, waiting. DO NOT LET FEAR TAKE OVER YOU. This is the best time to DWELL IN YOUR FAITH. We have more time to read devotionals and PRAY. We might feel uncertain but God is not. He knows exactly what is happening. We may not fully understand what is going on but God remains in control.
Anxiety is closely related to fear because of uncertainty. The period of waiting in an uncertain period like home quarantine can cause some anxiety to some especially to those who are not used to staying at home. STAY CALM AND DO NOT FOCUS ON UNCERTAINTIES. If you choose to dwell in your faith, staying calm would be a lot easier. Watching the news and reading from social media remain helpful only when it is there to inform you. When it begins to scare you, stop watching and reading and FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN DO WHILE WAITING. You said you have no time for many things that you want to do before the quarantine. God has heard you. Use it wisely for you may never get another chance like this.
Depression could happen from prolonged sadness and other symptoms. Two weeks of feeling and showing such symptoms (Google it DSM 5 MDD) could result in minor to severe depressive disorder i.e. if you did not do what I have said above and the recommendations below. A quarantine period can trigger a relapse to those who already have experienced it. Now that you have exercised your faith that supposed to be giving you calmness, BE CONFIDENT IN YOURSELF THAT YOU CAN GO THROUGH THIS. Think of those difficult times you have personally overcome. Now is the time to gather strength from such experiences. Experiences of others similar to what we are going through today are also helpful to revisit and learn from it. Read Exodus in the Old Testament – the plague stories and you may see the almost similarity of today’s scenario. In the end, God has delivered those who obeyed and stayed at home. So, how to fight these HQ challenges?
- Dwell in your faith and do not let fear take over you.
- Stay calm and do not focus on uncertainties.
- Be confident that this too shall pass.
Perhaps you might be wondering that these three suggestions are too broad. Well, below are the practical recommendations that you and your household can do.
DWELL IN YOUR FAITH
- Read devotionals (alone or as a family if they are open to it) and pray each day of the quarantine period.
- Read the Word of God and other inspirational books.
- Pray incessantly but make sure you take time to LISTEN TO GOD. Attend to the online service of your respective churches.
STAY CALM AND FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN DO
- Do debriefing with each other with your family and friends. Ask what are their thoughts, how they are feeling, and discuss possible things that you can do each day of the quarantine period. For people with pre-existing mental health issues, you may want to set an appointment online with your counselor or if you need one.
- Connect with friends, colleagues, families, and relatives that you have not talked to for a while. God has allowed the world to develop a technology like the Internet. Use it wisely to connect with people. We are only physically separated but can remain socially connected.
- Revisit those hobbies and try on new things. Read books, cook, bake, play online games, do art, sing karaoke, watch movies and series online, have coffee, plant trees in a pot (if you do not have enough empty land), smell the flowers, and watch or listen to the chirping birds. If you have a thing for cleaning every corner of your house, what are you waiting for? Go and clean every dust!
BE CONFIDENT THAT THIS TOO SHALL PASS
- Stay home and be safe by obeying the protocols instructed by the authority.
- Stay healthy – eat well, drink plenty of water, sleep well, take health supplements, do a home workout, and exercise.
- Be a responsible citizen and do your part to protect not just yourself but for others too. Of course, pray for the welfare of the front liners globally.
The list of suggestions above is not exhaustive. You can add more. The content of this article came from my workshop presentations, readings, and devotionals that I can only remember as I type. If you need professional help, do not hesitate to call your counselor for an online appointment.
REMEMBER THIS. God has a purpose for this Covid-19 and HQ. We may not know exactly what it is but we can TRUST GOD. Our plans for this year are all messed up however, Proverbs 19: 21 says, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” In case you find this article helpful, please feel free to share it.
