Page 34 - ድንቅ መጽሄት የጥር 2021 እትም

ከበደ ኃይሌ ዓምድ

By : Chris Kraft, Ph.D.
You love your significant other, and break up the day and help partners stay Kids sequestered at home during the pan-
both of you want to avoid the corona- grounded. demic create another whole dimension of
virus involved in the global pandemic, family togetherness, along with overwhelm-
and COVID-19, the disease it causes. So Keep the workday limited ing stress, especially when one or both par-
you’re isolating yourselves at home. “For couples who are working at home, it ents are trying to work from home. It can

After several weeks, you might find that helps to set boundaries between work hours be all but impossible to do work, attend
video meetings, help kids with home school
all that extra togetherness is overwhelm- and time spent together,” Kraft says. “The lessons, and deal lovingly with their emo-
ing. How do you maintain harmony and anxiety caused by the pandemic may tempt tions and behaviors.
not drive each other crazy? some people to lose themselves in work,
particularly people who invest a lot of their Couples should plan kids’ days in advance
Chris Kraft, Ph.D., a psychologist and personal identity in their professions. They when possible, and ensure that each partner
expert in relationships and sexuality, might miss the routine, the meetings, the is taking an equitable amount of time to
shares some tips and encouragement for structure that go with that.” keep children occupied and content.
couples waiting out the pandemic to-
gether. Beware substance use and abuse Don’t count on amazing sex
Couples and Cabin Fever Increased stress can aggravate habits such as Staying at home to help contain a danger-
smoking or substance abuse, including ous, viral pandemic is not exactly a roman-
Spending day after day in the same place drinking more alcohol. “Keep an eye on the tic vacation. Kraft says couples should
can make even devoted couples a little cocktails,” he advises. “Too much alcohol modify their expectations around sexual
stir-crazy. can set the stage for unhealthy interactions.”
intimacy. “People are distracted, and there’s
Kraft says, “Even committed couples He adds that people in recovery from sub- a blur between work and home life,” he
can start to become lethargic and lose stance use disorders may need to be espe- says.
sense of time, asking themselves, What cially vigilant, because being stuck at home “The stress is very real, particularly if one or
day is it? A sense of monotony can cause without in-person support meetings can both people are dealing with children at
a numbness to feelings, which is part of raise the risk of relapse. home, financial concerns, job loss, or illness
coping with so much uncertainty in the affecting a friend or family member. These
world right now.” Go outside together concerns, along with a generalized uncer-
Though relationships can offer solace, Exercising outdoors together can be a pow- tainty about what’s going to happen next,
it’s important for each person to take erful way to reduce stress and strengthen can interfere with sexual desire.”
responsibility for individual health and positive connections, Kraft says. Broaden your support system
well-being. “For couples that are used to spending time
in the gym, it might require some changes Your partner is just one person, no matter
Maintain self-care and a routine
to keep up with fitness and exercise when how amazing, and Kraft advises against
“Self-care is essential. With everyone’s you can’t work out on machines or take live leaning on any single individual for all your
schedule changed, it’s important to es- classes.” He recommends partners go for a emotional needs just because you’re under
tablish and maintain some kind of a rou- run or a bike ride, dig in the garden, or even the same roof.
tine,” Kraft says. He recommends stick- just take a walk together. “It’s important for both people in the rela-
ing to regular sleep hours, waking up on tionship to stay connected with family and
time, making the bed and getting dressed “Couples who are more sedentary can start friends who can be available for them, espe-
each day. Eating nutritious foods is im- a healthy habit, such as a regular walks out- cially as time wears on with continuing
portant, too. doors together during this time,” Kraft says.
physical distancing measures.
Work together to keep kids occupied
Scheduling breaks, such as a midday
yoga video or mediation session, can

34 “ኢትዮጵያ ለዘላለም ትኑር ” ድንቅ መጽሔት - ጥር 2013