The Mormon Therapist
Jennifer White, a provider at Symmetry Solutions pulled together a great resource to help protect your metal health during this trying time.
Today’s guest post is written by Jennifer White. Opinions shared on guest posts may not completely reflect the positions of the blog’s author.
Jennifer White is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and has been employed professionally in the mental health field since 2005. She is proficient in helping adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Jennifer works with clients in a variety of environments. Jennifer received a Bachelor’s Degree in Behavioral Science at Utah Valley University and a Masters Degree in Social Work at Brigham Young University.
I came across some helpful ideas of ways we can take care of our mental health during this coronavirus experience. In times of fear and anxiety it can be important to know how to prioritize self-care and our mental health.
These are some of the ideas from the American Foundation for Suicide prevention:
Separate what is in your control from what is not.
Do what helps you feel a sense of safety
Get outside in nature–even if you are avoiding crowds.
Challenge yourself to stay in the present.
Stay connected and reach out if you need more support.
Here are some ideas from a facebook post by Jen Lemen.
Things you could do in the time of corona virus:
1. Go next door and say, If you need anything, I’m here, just call.
2. Put your feet on the earth and breathe one really deep breath.
3. (If you an in a position to do so) Tip outrageously if you’re out and about. Say this is for the tips I know you’re missing right now.
4. Ask to speak to the owner of any local shop and say, How is it going? And then listen.
5. Call your hairdresser if you’re not coming in like usual. Ask how they are doing. Send your tip or the cost of your haircut via Venmo.
6. Smile at babies. They must be wondering about all the worried faces.
7. Get enough sleep.
8. Bathe your body like it’s a temple. Put on lotion like it’s a temple.
9. Call an old person.
10. Check on a friend with cancer. Listen as long as they’ll talk.
11. Remember this new careful about germs reality is a familiar daily nightmare for so many people.
12. Reach out to friends of Asian descent. Stigma and racism and lashing out is up for our friends from these communities. Say, I appreciate you and I’m here if you need anything.
13. Stay home. Meditate. Breathe deep deep deep. Exhale.
14. Organize the cabinets. Realize there’s more here than you realized.
15. Pick three people to check in with every day.
16. Share. Whatever you have, if you have more than one of anything, tell yourself, I have this so I can share.
17. Write a letter. We won’t always be here. Write to whomever you…
Natasha Helfer Parker, LCMFT, CST, CSTS can be reached at natashaparker.org and runs an online practice, Symmetry Solutions, which focuses on helping families and individuals with faith concerns, sexuality and mental health. She hosts the Mormon Mental Health and Mormon Sex InfoPodcasts, is the current past president of the Mormon Mental Health Association and runs a sex education program, Sex Talk with Natasha. She has over 20 years of experience working with primarily an LDS/Mormon clientele.
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