Page 27 - SFHN0920finalUF.qxp_SFHN 0608 Friday 5.0

Coping with the Other Impact of COVID-19 … Mental Health Challenges

Mental breakdowns. Do - only them. The entire a pathway to resilience. nity of support. Humans need connec-
mestic violence. Sub stance population had become So how do we build this “resilience?” tion - kindness creates a better environ-
abuse. Crippling depression traumatized. Loss of Through the other two “Rs” - “Routine” ment overall. This is particularly salient
and anxiety. focus, sleep problems, and “Relationships.” for parents, as children can be influenced
From a psychiatric stand- depression, and anxiety A good routine can help anyone by turbulence at home. And at the end of
point our current challenges symptoms were wide- through a time like this. Many are stuck the day, aren’t relationships what our
go far beyond coronavirus. spread. Aren’t there some at home working (or not working), and lives are made of? We flourish when we
Of course, COVID-19 is a big striking parallels between the same goes with kids. Online learning keep good relationships with our fami-
deal, but what will be left in then and now? requires discipline, setting aside time for lies, our friends, our partners, our peers,
its wake? We must also be Trauma is devastating work and study. It’s even true if you have and, of course, ourselves. The apprecia-
focused on the pandemic’s for those experiencing it; to go back to the office or the kids are tion of these relationships can give us the
mental health impact. some people develop headed back to class - a routine of get- strength to handle any crisis.
Research claims that so BY ARTHUR post-traumatic stress dis- ting ready in the morning or washing Remember, crises can end up bringing
far, over half of U.S. adults BREGMAN, MD order or PTSD. Psycho - your hands after coming home may keep out the best in people. By managing a
have been affected psycho- logical damage from trau- you both safe and sane! routine and caring for our relationships,
logically because of this pan- ma can affect our lives Daily structure fosters a sense of pur- we set the stage for personal resilience
demic. Stress, anxiety, and overall confu- and the lives around us, feeling like an pose which is always supportive of men- that can help us learn from our circum-
sion are rampant through our communi- insurmountable challenge. tal health. Using time management and a stances and become stronger. We know
ties as the virus continues to spread. The good news is that it’s quite possi- little creativity, this is a practice that can the tools for the job - don’t let these
How can we better understand this trou- ble to overcome trauma using what I like easily be done at home. As a routine uncertain times set us off track!
bling consequence of COVID-19? to call the “Three R’s.” It may sound a bit crystallizes, we relax into new patterns. Dr. Arthur Bregman is a Miami physi-
The source of our collective anxiety is simplistic but there is substance in these Familiarity, in this way, brings comfort. cian who specializes in child and adoles-
actually trauma which we experience on three ingredients. Relationships are both an ingredient cent psychiatry and treats patients of all
a mass level. Similar feelings of helpless- The first and biggest “R” is towards resilience and an end-goal in ages. An early adopter of telemedicine,
ness and depression were prevalent after “resilience.” Resilience is essentially themselves. Being patient, kind, and Dr. Bregman “sees” patients from South
the Spanish Flu pandemic from 1918 to “bouncing back” from challenges with a compassionate during a crisis can pro- Florida and across the country. In addi-
1920. Many people died and lost loved problem-solving attitude, and a positive vide us with an emotional foundation. It tion to his private practice, he is a clini-
ones while so many others survived but disposition. Cultivation of it is like a vac- has long been recognized in psychologi- cal professor at The University of Miami
lost their livelihoods. The result was a cine for your mental health in tough cal circles that altruism feels good for the Miller School of Medicine’s Department
mental health pandemic after the flu out- times. Some people have a natural capac- one giving. of Psychiatry and served as the Chief of
break. Survivors of the disease itself suf- ity for it and others may have to work at Being at our best for loved ones and Psychiatry for Nicklaus Children’s
fered mental health issues, but it wasn’t it, but I’m convinced everyone can create those around us builds a strong commu- Hospital for more than a decade.

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South Florida Hospital News southfloridahospitalnews.com September 2020 27