{"id":38919,"date":"2021-04-06T11:53:37","date_gmt":"2021-04-06T17:53:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=38919"},"modified":"2023-03-06T10:03:39","modified_gmt":"2023-03-06T17:03:39","slug":"recovering-from-the-pandemic-5-ways-to-restore-human-connections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/recovering-from-the-pandemic-5-ways-to-restore-human-connections\/","title":{"rendered":"Recovering from the pandemic: 5 ways to restore human connections"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>
\"Woman
The pandemic has robbed us of human connections. Now, as communities open up more, some people are struggling to restore in-person human connections. Psychologist, Vanessa Rollins, shares ideas for getting your social skills back in shape. Photo: Getty Images.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Loss of human connection has become a painful epidemic alongside the global COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

Studies have shown that four of every 10 adults have coped with anxiety or depression over the last year<\/a>, up from one in 10 prior to the pandemic. Children and teens have been suffering as well.

Para ver las p\u00e1ginas web de UCHealth en espa\u00f1ol, vaya a UCHealth.org y presione el bot\u00f3n \u201cSelect Language\u201d (es decir, seleccione el lenguaje) en la esquina superior derecha de la ventana. Luego, en el men\u00fa desplegable, seleccione \u201cSpanish\u201d (espa\u00f1ol), o cualquier otro idioma que desee.<\/div>\n

Now that millions of people are getting their vaccines and our communities are beginning to open up, behavioral health experts are discovering how isolation and loneliness have affected people and how challenging it may be for some people to feel comfortable with in-person human connection again.<\/p>\n

Another casualty of the pandemic: loss of human connections<\/h2>\n

Vanessa Rollins<\/a> has a doctorate in psychology and cares for patients from children through older adults as an integrated behavioral health expert who works closely with primary care providers<\/a> at UCHeath Family Medicine in Boulder<\/a>. (Click here<\/a> to learn how integrated behavioral health works.)<\/p>\n

At the beginning of the pandemic, Rollins saw many patients who were dealing with anxiety directly related to the pandemic.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe heard, \u2018I\u2019m afraid to go to the grocery store and touch things. I\u2019m afraid I might get sick or worse that I might get other people sick,\u2019\u201d said Rollins who is also an assistant professor<\/a> in Family Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine<\/a> on the Anschutz Medical Campus<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Everyone wanted to know how to stay safe and protect family members from the virus. People who already suffered from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) needed help letting go of worries that were being validated constantly in the news. Trips anywhere out of the house felt dangerous. Meanwhile, those who already were vulnerable to anxiety and depression sank to deeper lows while others needed help from behavioral health experts for the first time.<\/p>\n

\"Vanessa
Vanessa Rollins is a psychologist who helps people with anxiety and other behavioral health challenges. She’s finding many patients who are unsure how to navigate the world as we begin to open back up. Photo courtesy of Vanessa Rollins.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For several weeks last spring, Rollins and her behavioral health colleagues helped all of their patients through online, virtual visits. But, Rollins and her colleagues soon returned to in-person sessions because many patients desperately needed the lifeline of human connection.<\/p>\n

During successive waves, patients were dealing with the economic and mental health side-effects of the pandemic.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow we\u2019re seeing the fallout from a year of social isolation and economic instability. Family struggles, health issues caused by chronic stress, kids with learning or behavioral problems, substance abuse, and loneliness are all part of what we now have to get through,\u201d Rollins said.<\/p>\n

And, as people get vaccines and the rules of human contact evolve and change again, Rollins is finding that the people who did the best job of staying safe and social distancing are having trouble figuring out how to embrace human connections again now.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow do we get back to normal and what is normal? Those who did it right \u2014 who didn\u2019t have a big Thanksgiving get-together or Super Bowl parties \u2014 they\u2019re the most concerned. They want to have a life again, but it feels wrong to let go of rules they\u2019ve embraced for so long,\u2019\u2019 Rollins said.<\/p>\n

Rollins uses a variety of evidence-based treatment methods \u2014 ranging from cognitive behavioral therapy to mindfulness \u2014 to help her patients.<\/p>\n

To assist the general public, Rollins offers advice on restoring human connections.<\/p>\n

5 tips to cope with pandemic anxiety and restore human connections:<\/h2>\n

1. Live in the moment.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n

How can I get help with behavioral health care?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you are already a patient at a UCHealth primary care clinic<\/a> that also has a behavioral health expert, you can seek a referral from your primary care provider.<\/p>\n

What is integrated behavioral health care?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Integrated behavioral health care<\/a> means that experts in mental, emotional and behavioral health \u2014 like psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, and licensed counselors \u2014 work closely in the same clinics with primary care providers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Is help available for children and teens?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It depends on the clinic. All of the family medicine clinics, like the one where Vanessa Rollins practices, serve patients of all ages. Some primary care clinics serve just adults.<\/p>\n

Does insurance cover behavioral health visits?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you see a behavioral health expert at your primary care clinic, your visit should be covered by insurance. Check your plan to be sure.<\/p>\n

What do I do if I need help immediately?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please call 911 or go to your local hospital. Colorado Crisis Services also offers 24\/7 support at 844-493-TALK (8255) or by texting TALK to 38255.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nYou\u2019ll hear plenty of people talking about the value of mindfulness and meditation. That\u2019s because these techniques work so well, Rollins said. But, practicing mindfulness doesn\u2019t need to be complex. You don\u2019t need to do anything fancy or pay for an app. There\u2019s plenty of free content out there to introduce you to the most useful aspects of mindfulness.<\/p>\n

Rollins teaches her patients a very simple technique called \u201cSee. Hear. Feel.\u201d<\/p>\n

The idea is to train our minds to focus only on the present moment, to live in the \u201cnow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re connecting to the present, you\u2019re not worried about when the pandemic is going to end or if we\u2019re going to be wearing masks for the rest of our lives,\u201d Rollins said. \u201cAnd you\u2019re not lamenting the rough year you\u2019ve had.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you like to garden, look for birds, sit on your deck, walk or run, take time while you\u2019re outside to simply notice the world around you. See three things. Hear three things. Feel three things.<\/p>\n

\u201cThink to yourself, I\u2019m looking at the mountains. I see the blue skies. I\u2019m feeling the air or sun on my skin. I feel the sensation of gravel under my feet. I\u2019m hearing the geese,\u201d Rollins said.\u00a0 \u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cThe things we are worrying about are rarely right in front of us. It\u2019s all abstract, things that haven\u2019t happened yet or probably won\u2019t happen, or things from the past we\u2019ve already lived through.\u201d Rollins said.<\/p>\n

Noticing simple sights, sounds and sensations helps ground us in the present moment and let go of worries.<\/p>\n

2. Challenge yourself to have simple, incidental interactions with people.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re one of those people who has been excellent at following health advice and you\u2019ve been limiting your social interactions, you may need some practice at connecting with others again.<\/p>\n

Throughout the pandemic, many people have missed incidental interactions with strangers as well as the deeper social connections. Experts know how valuable even these little moments are.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe spent a long time walking away from other people and avoiding eye contact. Humans are social animals. We need to have social feedback,\u201d Rollins said.<\/p>\n

People who are coping with depression and anxiety need to renew social connections through in-person contacts.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going to take some creativity to bring that back,\u201d Rollins said.<\/p>\n

She encourages her patients to get out in the world \u2014\u00a0safely, and following guidelines from local authorities and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But, she tells them to purposely go to a coffee shop or a restaurant and pick up a to-go order. Take the time to have a short conversation with the worker.<\/p>\n

\u201cLook that person in the eye. Smile under your mask. Ask how their day is going. Or make some sort of comment about how your day is going.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some people didn\u2019t have large networks before the pandemic and they are suffering deeply now.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve had patients who are new to Colorado. They moved at a time when it\u2019s extremely challenging to make friends,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Especially for people who don\u2019t have large social circles, incidental interactions can be a lifeline until they can meet more people through work and hobbies.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you don\u2019t have personal or close family health risk factors, go in person to the store. Make eye contact with your checker, say hello,\u201d Rollins said. \u201cI had a great conversation with my checker the other day about how much we both loved the new gluten-free Oreos, we were both laughing and it felt good.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

3. Reclaim human connections by setting up safer in-person gatherings with friends and family.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Fear has governed our choices for more than a year.<\/p>\n

Now that the CDC is saying it\u2019s ok for vaccinated people to get together unmasked, we need to start chipping away at our fears, Rollins said.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say it’s safe for vaccinated people to gather again. Visiting with family members outside is especially safe. Once you are fully vaccinated, reach out and arrange outings with your loved ones. Photo: Getty Images.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cFigure out what your personal level of risk is, have honest conversations with friends and family and challenge yourself to connect with others in-person in ways that have been deemed safer by the CDC or local guidelines.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you have friends or family who have been vaccinated, and you have too, reach out and have a talk about getting together,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cOvercoming fear means stretching yourself a touch beyond where you feel totally safe, it doesn\u2019t mean ripping off your mask and running around hugging strangers, but it does mean weighing your real need for social connection again with what science is currently telling us is ok to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Outdoor gatherings have been much safer than indoor gatherings, so for some, dipping toes in the social waters through small, outdoor gatherings is a good start.<\/p>\n

4. Prioritize exercise.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Vanessa
Getting outdoors with others is a great way to restore human connections. Vanessa Rollins loves backpacking. Photo courtesy of Vanessa Rollins.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Exercise is critical for physical and emotional well-being.<\/p>\n

Gyms were closed for a while and some people continued to feel unsafe returning to a gym. If that\u2019s true for you, it\u2019s critical to find alternatives, Rollins said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s hard for some people to switch gears. I\u2019ve had some patients who stopped going to the gym with the idea they\u2019d return once the pandemic was over. Two weeks of no exercising then stretched out into months of no activity. Now we have to find a way to get the activity back. It\u2019s vital to our wellbeing\u201d<\/p>\n

Rollins tells people that exercise is an incredibly powerful medicine.<\/p>\n

\u201cResearch shows we need vigorous activity. Exercise boosts endorphins and serotonin, and decreases stress hormones and inflammation. Studies consistently show it improves the effectiveness of antidepressant and antianxiety medication and in many cases trumps medication,\u201d Rollins said.<\/p>\n

\u201cTake your dog on a walk, bicycle, hike, walk around the mall. Find something that works for you and get out there,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve been isolating yourself religiously and you\u2019re worried about crowds outdoors, then plan ahead.<\/p>\n

\u201cAssess your tolerance for risk,\u201d Rollins said.<\/p>\n

You can look for trails that are less crowded or enjoy parks on weekdays during off-peak hours.<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing we do is going to be 100% safe. But there\u2019s an acceptable level of risk when weighed against the benefits of activity. Risk of transmission outdoors has been deemed relatively low and we know the benefits of activity are very real,\u201d Rollins said.<\/p>\n

Especially for those who have been starved of social contact, she urges them to make eye contact with strangers outside. Even with your mask on, you can safely wave and greet people. You\u2019ll feel better and the people you greet may as well.<\/p>\n

5. Accept reality and reframe expectations.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

We need to be kind to ourselves. The pandemic has been devastating. Many people know of someone who has been sick with or died from COVID-19. Other losses have mounted. The pandemic has been scary and has upended our lives.<\/p>\n

So, it\u2019s OK to grieve and it\u2019s vital not to create unrealistic expectations around our recovery.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had to learn a whole new way of being. Now, after being told to keep away from people for a year, we\u2019re hearing that a time to reconnect in old ways is coming. It\u2019s going to take some time to adjust and find a new normal,\u201d Rollins said.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the things behavioral health providers having been talking about a lot is acceptance. Knowing that given all that we\u2019ve been through, there\u2019s a bit of a ceiling on how comfortable we are going to feel,\u201d Rollins said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat doesn\u2019t mean deciding life is terrible, but there are real challenges, real uncertainties, real changes in many people\u2019s lives and that\u2019s created a sense of loss.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, we can absolutely be happy and find ways to have meaning in our lives. But, the loss is there and it\u2019s OK to grieve and feel discomfort related to the uncertainties,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why it\u2019s so helpful to reframe expectations.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe conclusion that we can only be happy again when everything is back to normal tends to create more suffering. Even though our current situation is hugely not preferred, what small thing can I still find joy or gratitude in?\u201d<\/p>\n

If people what to learn more about these strategies or find that they\u2019re struggling to navigate on these transitions on their own, therapy through UCHealth integrated primary care, and elsewhere in the community, is available. Reach out.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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