The stress of quarantine can be managed.

Stress is compounded in people when they do not recognize that a stressor is affecting them. It is also a problem when they recognize they are stressed, and they will not let it go. It is not what happens to you. It is what you do with it! Stress must be managed properly to reduce the risk to our health.

Health is wellbeing in many areas – physical, mental, emotional, social, spiritual, and more. It is also the absence of disease or infirmity and being able to control thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It does not mean you cannot feel sad, angry, stressed, etc. It means that you are able to cope with life, be productive, and contribute appropriately.

Quarantine has affected nearly all of us. Our physical health may be good, but our mental and emotional health can affect that physical health. The same with mental and emotional health. Physical health can affect our minds and overall wellbeing. The quarantine affects us more than mentally, emotionally, and physically. Some can weather it easier than others. A few will have a daily struggle.

One of the struggles we have with COVID-19 is the physical health of the elderly. Many of them have pre-existing conditions that make them a high risk of death. Without the COVID-19 pandemic, mental illness increases heart disease 3.4 times, diabetes 3.4 times, respiratory illness 5 times, pneumonia 6.6 times, and seasonal influenza 6.6 times. The pre-existing health conditions are the same symptoms that are likely to cause death in our high-risk elderly.

You do not have to be elderly to have an increased risk of disease from poor mental health. It affects everyone. If you also happen to be in the category of people who are obese, get little exercise, smoke, drink alcohol to excess, or have a drug-abuse problem, you have an increased risk of health issues without the quarantine or COVID-19.

Negativity is thriving in our world. Fear is accelerating without the daily onslaught of headlines in media 24/7. Fear may not cause a disease, but it can accelerate the progression of it. Our brains convert our perceived fears into physical stress that can weaken our immune systems. Negativity diminishes our survivability.

A recent study reported that elderly who were happy and satisfied with their lives, in spite of depression, financial problems, and other health concerns, had a 35% likelihood to outlive those in a similar age group that did not live a joyful and exciting life.

The outlook that we have for our lives affects our current and future health. Growing old happens and we should be prepared for it. A quarantine should have no impact on your ability to survive. It is not what happens to us, but how we allow it to affect us.

People wrapped up in fear tend to have more health problems. They typically eat poorly, exercise less, do not manage stress, and do not see their doctors unless there is an emergency. Annual physicals can diagnose health issues before they before health problems.

We do not have a choice of whether we must remain under house arrest. We do have a choice about how it affects our lives.

Live Longer & Enjoy Life! – Red O’Laughlin – https://RedOLaughin.com

 

One Response

  1. I agree, fear is rampant in our world today, and not just from whether I will get the virus or not. I make choices to keep the virus away from me, but the fear of outside forces that I have no control over takes a paradigm shift in thoughts. I’m working on it!

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