INSIGHT Magazine Special Home Edition April 2020 | Page 30

STAYING HEALTHY
everyone was ready.
These are unprecedented times. We’ve never
dealt with a pandemic of this magnitude in
our lifetime. We don’t have all the answers.
We’re not sure what will happen next or
when this will end and life will return to
normal for each of us. I understand that
this can be a time full of anxiety and stress
for many, and that some can spiral into a
depressive state.
As someone who has suffered from anxiety
and depression, I am passionate about
self-care and mental health awareness. I
decided to reach out to local therapist, Anjuli
Thompson of HOUSE Counseling in Oxford,
Alabama for professional tips on dealing
with the burden of stress many of us may be
feeling from COVID-19.
Anjuli has been in the behavioral health field
since 2015 and serves a wide range of clients
in and around our area. “True psychotherapy
is an art as much as it is a science. I’ve
enjoyed watching the stigma of mental
health shift in my clients as we grow a deeper
therapeutic alliance. As word of mouth
travels around, the word is, that this works. I
know this both personally and professionally
because I myself have a therapist”.
About three weeks ago Anjuli was forced to
shift her practice to strictly Telehealth. She
says the worst part for her was grieving the
loss of the art of therapy. The true human
connection, in person, is so healing. She says,
it hurt her soul to make the shift. She had to
practice what she was preaching and had
to find the gratitude and the lessons being
taught to her by COVID-19. And she did. She
31
found that the human connection was still
there.
Sure, it is more exhausting for her as her
eight hour days have shifted into staring into
a computer screen. She’s had to figure out
interactive play therapy techniques (Anjuli is
also a registered play therapist and specialize
in clients seven and under). It’s been hard
work but she remarks that the connection
between her and her clients will always be
there. “For that, I am grateful because I KNOW
that we are all in this together and I KNOW
we'll make it through this one day at a time”.
With that being said, let’s go back to the
exhaustion Anjuli mentioned. “I am still
trying to figure out MY self care. CrossFit
has been taken away from me and that was
my primary source of social connection and
physical exercise. I did it every single day.
It’s gone. So, I’m figuring out plan B. When it
comes to true self care, we cannot overthink
this. We have to be creative and open to
being mindful of the small things we do to
care for ourselves”.
Here are a few tips from Anjuli and myself on
practicing self care during a time of isolation.
1. BREATHE. Have you noticed you hold
your breath? I do sometimes. When I’m
anxious, I hold tension in my shoulders, I
often clench my jaw, and I don’t actively
take good belly breaths. This, by far, will
save you... I promise.
2. HYDRATE. If you can, try alkaline water
because disease cannot thrive in an
alkaline environment. Aim for at least ½ a
gallon of water a day. Work up to a gallon.
April 2020 – Special Home Edition
INSIGHT