How Do I Continue to Stay Safe as COVID-19 Persists?

It is scary and saddening for many, but the prevalence of COVID-19 is still at an international high. COVID-19 has impacted and changed lives across the globe. As projected outbreaks worsen throughout the fall months, there are several ways that you can stay safe and help keep your mental health in check.

How to Keep Yourself Safe

You have lived through masks and general safety rules for COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has continued to update guidelines for keeping you and your family safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. People who are not fully vaccinated do run a higher risk of health problems from COVID-19.  The CDC shares these tips for how to protect yourself and others:

• Get the COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccines help your body create antibodies for whatever illness you are being vaccinated against. In the case of COVID-19, the vaccine not only lessens your chances of catching COVID-19 but can also lessen your symptoms if you do get infected. Once you are fully vaccinated, it may also help alleviate your fears about getting the COVID-19 virus, helping to protect your mental health.
• Wear a mask in public spaces. Wearing a mask decreases the number of airborne droplets passed from one person to another. Per the CDC’s guidelines, people who are age 2 and older and not vaccinated should wear a mask indoors and whenever they are in close proximity to others. In general, you do not need to wear a mask outside unless you will be in close proximity to unvaccinated people, or you are unvaccinated and will be in close proximity to others.
• Stay six feet away from others. Keeping space between yourself and others greatly reduces the chance of COVID-19 being spread through the air and breathed in by you. This is especially important for those who have existing health conditions, are immunocompromised, or are unvaccinated.
• Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces. This helps you avoid being in close contact with anyone who is infected with the COVID-19 virus.
• Wash your hands often. This includes before eating or preparing food, before touching your face, after using the restroom, after leaving a public place, after blowing your nose/coughing/sneezing, after handling your mask, after changing a diaper, after caring for someone who is sick, and after working with pets or animals. Washing your hands often helps minimize your risk of getting COVID-19 through physical contact with surfaces that hold the virus.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes. If you are wearing a mask when you cough or sneeze, keep your mask on and change it as soon as possible. If not, cover your mouth and nose with an elbow or tissue.
• Clean often. Disinfect surfaces frequently to avoid any trace of the COVID-19 virus. If you skipped spring cleaning this year, fall is the perfect time to do deep cleaning.
• Monitor your health daily. If you are feeling ill or notice any symptoms of COVID-19, be sure to stay home and get a COVID-19 test. By knowing if you have the COVID-19 virus, you can protect others around you.

COVID-19 and Mental Health

COVID-19 and the isolation that accompanies it has proven to be especially rough on mental health. Fear of COVID-19 and the polarizing debates about lockdowns and vaccines can be problematic and sometimes dangerous. Feeling scared, sad, rejected, or confused by all the rules surrounding COVID-19 is normal, and it is okay to not know what to do. If you are worried, talk to your doctor or therapist about COVID-19 and the impact it is having on your life and mental health

COVID-19 and Addiction

Due to stress, isolation, declines in mental health, and other reasons, addiction rates in the United States have skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Addiction is a serious illness that can take over a person’s life, often with co-occurring disorders that need to be addressed for proper treatment.

According to information shared by the  National Institutes of Health, “addictive behavior and COVID-19 form the dangerous duo which fuels each other’s propagation.” If you are struggling with a substance use disorder, you are not alone. Talk to your doctor right away or check yourself into a rehabilitation facility.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a scary, life-changing experience for many – and unfortunately, it does not appear to be ending any time soon. You can take that first step now to free yourself from addiction, keep yourself safe from COVID-19, and live a happy and healthy life in recovery.

Though it’s been said COVID-19 would be “over” by now, what do you do when people are still being impacted by COVID-19 and new variants of the virus continue to emerge? First off, talk to your doctor. Your doctor can answer any questions you may have, give you medical facts about COVID-19, and help you protect yourself from contracting the virus. If you are struggling with your mental health or using substances due to the impacts of prolonged COVID-19, call us at RECO Intensive. At RECO Intensive, we understand that the negative impacts of COVID-19 – everything from fear to isolation to financial worries – can lead people to harsh places. It’s difficult to maintain your mental health during a global pandemic, and it’s especially difficult to beat addiction on your own. Our professional staff and experienced alumni can create a treatment plan that is specifically catered to your needs. To learn more, call RECO Intensive today at (561) 464-6533.