Remaining Positive and Healthy Amidst COVID-19 Concerns - Cohen Veterans Network

Dr. Amanda Spray, Clinician and Director at the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic in New York, offers advice on breaking the cycle of negative thought and finding safe, healthy methods to remain social, positive, and active.

“I think this is a time of opportunity,” Spray said. “Given the current recommendations to decrease proximity to others, we need to be a little creative.”

She acknowledges that humans are social creatures, and that isolation like this can be detrimental to our mental health – especially those with pre-existing mental health conditions. She suggests that people attempt to reframe the concept of social isolation and realize its only physical isolation – technology such as Facetime, Skype, Google Meet, and Zoom afford us the opportunity to maintain some social interaction with coworkers, friends, and family.

“Just because two or more people can’t be together in the same space, doesn’t mean social connections can’t happen.”

Dr. Spray also suggests things we can do in our own space to maintain a positive outlook such as: keeping and maintain a schedule, finding a new routine, and even assigning certain spaces of the house to people for periods of time.