Back to Basics: A Toolkit of Resources During COVID-19 Self-Isolation

We can learn a lot from kids. One teen told me, “I brush my teeth” when I asked how he was dealing with the upheaval in his life. Sometimes our clients teach us, I thought as I reached for my toothbrush. Setting regular routines is important. Now more than ever, it is important to take care of ourselves, so we can help take care of others.

Many of us are home, and we are all isolating due to COVID-19. Whether we are therapists, parents at home with our children, or healthcare workers, we can all use this time of self-isolation as an opportunity for a “retreat” to reflect on our own needs so that we are, in turn, able to take care of others. This retreat re-frame helps us view this unexpected situation as an opportunity for personal growth.

We at Boston Post Adoption Resources know that this is a time of high stress and anxiety for all.   Specifically, we know that many BPAR clients are experiencing racism and xenophobia, as well as dealing with the stress of social isolation and anxiety related to the coronavirus. We wanted to create a comprehensive list of offered supports below.  Additionally, we are going to be offering live groups to help people feel connected during this period of social distancing. Please check our Groups page where we will be posting more information or join the BPAR mailing list to be notified by email.

These COVID-19 mental health resources are the ones our clinicians have found the most helpful for ourselves and our clients in the past few weeks:

Resources/Articles to Manage Coronavirus Anxiety and Stress

• Dr. Marni Chanoff shares how to acknowledge anxiety and build routines on this 5-minute audio segment on WBUR
• This animated CDC video written and narrated by Dr. Russ Harris, author of The Happiness Trap, provides practical steps for dealing with fear and anxiety
• Harvard Health Sciences published a printable guide for managing fears and anxiety around COVID-19

Resources for Those Experiencing Racism and/or Xenophobia

• A blog writer explains “How the Coronavirus Outbreak Is Changing My Asian American Experience”
• NPR describes “When Xenophobia Spreads Like A Virus”

Online Support Communities

• BPAR will offer live groups related to post adoption mental health, details TBD; email info@bpar.org with inquiries
• Parents Helping Parents of Massachusetts offers a Parental Stress Line and Parent Support Groups to support caregivers
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) lists general online communities supporting mental health

Resources for Parents and/or Those Working with Children

• Talking with Children: Tips for Caregivers, Parents and Teachers During Infectious Disease Outbreaks is a resource from SAMHSA, the Substances Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
  
• The New York Times published an article on How to Talk to Kids About Coronavirus
• Kids can read or listen to Just For Kids: A Comic Exploring The New Coronavirus from NPR
• Parents interested in free online courses on parenting can use the coupon code thistooshallpass(all one word) on the Beyond Consequences Institute website

ADHD Resources

• ADDitude provides a free downloadable book on Mindfulness and Other Natural Treatments for ADHD Symptoms

Meditations

• 10 Percent Happier has some guided meditations specific around this as well as a live daily meditation at 3pm ET
• Headspace is offering a free subscription for health care providers (anyone who has an NPI) throughout 2020
• “Bringing RAIN to Fear” and “Meeting Fear with a Healing Breath” include guided meditation
• Multi-sensory tools from The New York Times can help you establish a calm place for meditation

Happiness Course

• Yale University is offering a 30-hour happiness course online through Coursera, free to audit according to CNN

Exercise and Yoga

• Down Dog (phone app) is offering free access to all of their apps for yoga, fitness classes, etc. through May 1

Written by KC Craig
Boston Post Adoption Resources