Grande Rounds Webinar Addressed Stress in the Age of COVID-19
Managing the stress of a pandemic was the topic of the recent Grande Rounds hosted virtually by the Boca Grande Health Clinic and the Boca Grande Health Foundation on March 4. Ivy League trained and board-certified psychiatry specialist Alexander P. Miano, MD, addressed how to recognize stressors, ways to eliminate risk factors and how to cope with pandemic-induced stress.
The world has been at battle with microbes (microorganisms that invade the body and cause infections) since recorded history, beginning with the war of Athens and Spartans through the Black Plague, Cholera, H1N1, and now – COVID-19. The Spanish Flu (1918-1920) introduced us to mask wearing, hand washing and isolating – concepts still in use today. However, the proliferation of today’s 24/7 news cycle and constant high-pitched social media have created unprecedented stressors.
Dr. Miano passed along tips for coping during a pandemic and maintaining resilience over time. Below are some takeaways from the presentation. View presentation.
- Remind yourself that you are not alone in this. That everyone on the planet is in this unusual situation. That you are doing your best. That we are all in this together.
- Identify and accept those things which you do not have control over.
- Increase your sense of control by keeping a consistent daily routine.
- Get adequate sleep. Eat healthy meals. Spend time safely outdoors. Keep doing the things you enjoy daily.
- Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories.
- Ask for help. If you feel you may be misusing alcohol, tobacco, caffeine or other substances (including prescription medications).
Dr. Miano practices at Hartford HealthCare’s Backus Hospital in Norwich, CT, and has more than 26 years of experience in the medical field. He graduated from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, in New York City and completed his residency at Yale University School of Medicine.
All of us are facing challenges of some kind as we manage life in the high-risk world of COVD-19. Ask for help. Your primary care doctor or a Boca Grande Health Clinic physician is a good place to start.
Learn More
- Care for Yourself – information available at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- National Helpline: 1-800- 662-HELP (4357)
- United Way Infoline: 2-1-1 (Multilingual)
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
About the Author
Mark Driscoll
Mr. Driscoll began leading the Clinic’s operations in July 2020. He brings with him more than 30 years of healthcare experience in service line administration, practice management, managed care, and business development. His strengths as an entrepreneurial minded, financially grounded executive with strong performance and achievement drive and exceptional team building skills are invaluable in […]
More Recent Healthcare News
What you need to know about strokes
May 26, 2023Strokes happen when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted or reduced, which prevents brain tissue from getting oxygen and nutrients, which leads to brain damage or death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S. and is a […]
Paying tribute to our great nurses
May 10, 2023When it comes to trust, nurses continue to top Gallup’s annual Honesty and Ethics of Professions poll, according to the latest results published earlier this year. Nurses have held the top spot every year since 1999, except in 2001, when firefighters commanded that honor in the wake of the 9/11. (In case you’re wondering, medical […]
In what researchers are calling “an enormous leap forward in the understanding of Parkinson’s disease,” a new tool has been discovered that can detect pathology in spinal fluid of people who have not yet been diagnosed or exhibited clinical symptoms of the disease but are at a high risk of developing it. The new research, […]
Bob Fletcher’s secrets to longevity
April 5, 2023Next in the Boca Grande Health Clinic’s web video series, “Secrets to Longevity,” is Robert (Bob) Fletcher, one of the Island’s nonagenarians (those in their 90s). Watch Bob’s secrets to longevity, Episode 5. After the passing of his parents, Robert (Bob) Fletcher, 91, took over the family’s small piano and organ business in the 1970s […]