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My Illness in March:

Back in March of last year, I fell extremely sick. It was an ordinary Wednesday, I was sitting in AP Chemistry taking a practice exam when my throat began to sore and my eyes became fuzzy. I got through the school day fine but, that night, I knew something was wrong. The next morning, I couldn’t get myself out of bed. My nose was stuffed and my body incredibly weak. Keeping my eyes open was a difficult task as my head pounded intensely. I took the last two week-days off. They were absolutely dreadful—I didn’t know how I was gonna return to school.

Luckily, the next Monday, I found out it had closed following Governor Janet Mills’ quarantine measures. My family worried and so did I. COVID-19 had just been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. I locked myself into my bed, spending many days resting and trying my best to attend online classes. My classmates asked me: “Do you think you have it?” I didn’t know and I didn’t plan on knowing. I was hellbent on isolating myself from my family and the outside world. I felt reinforced in this decision since, at the time, most online medical sources said to avoid hospitals and self-isolate. I went through probably the most conflicted and confused phase of my life. I held the common belief of “it can’t happen to me.” I constantly watched the news and educational videos regarding the virus to find out if I had it. It didn’t help that I showed all the symptoms(known at the time) except difficulty breathing. Fortunately, this belief was right as my condition gradually improved. Because I didn’t go to the hospital, I’m still not certain of what I was suffering through. It’s unlikely it was coronavirus since I didn’t show any of the extreme symptoms and none of my family members were infected. Regardless, after about two weeks of applying Vicks cream, constant sleeping, and taking various flu meds, I got better. This experience likely set up how I’d deal with the pandemic from then on. I would rarely leave the house and, when I did, I always left with two face masks(one as a back-up) and sanitizers.

I’d practically become a germaphobe—for good reason.

When my friend threw a graduation party, I had to, regrettably, refuse just because of how engineered I was into isolating by that point. I was super relieved when I learned that USM would be offering fully online courses. I couldn’t fathom the thought of going to school during the pandemic. I picked all online classes and have been ever since the semester began. 

While it may seem I’ve been extraordinarily paranoid, I think hard times call for strict measures. No one in my family has ever come into contact with the virus and I doubt(and hope) we ever will. I feel as though my sickness last year was, while dreadful, a great motivator for my family and me to stay clean and healthy through the pandemic. I suppose you could say we were in “pandemic mode” before most other families. To find out more about some of the steps we took, see Cleanliness during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cleanliness during the COVID-19 Pandemic:

Back when the pandemic had just begun, I remember how paranoid my family was. We quickly stocked up on sanitizers, wipes, and soaps—sanitizing and cleaning everything from mail to groceries. We weren’t ready to take any risks, especially after what I’d gone through(see My Illness in March). There wasn’t a whole lot of reliable information on the virus at that point and so we wanted to be safe. Luckily, the scientific community has become much more knowledgeable on the matter ever since.

Coronavirus has called for extreme sanitary measures. The virus is known for its ability to spread quickly from person to person. Thus, it is important that we understand how we can protect ourselves and others from contracting it:

COVID-19 is spread commonly through direct contact with infected respiratory droplets. These droplets can survive on surfaces for either a few hours or a few days. The best way to prevent contracting the virus is by using disinfectants. There are also many other methods of prevention:

1. Maintaining a 6ft distance in public(if not possible—3ft at the very least)
2. Coughing or sneezing into your elbow or a tissue, NOT your hands. If you use a tissue, get rid of it ASAP.
3. Avoiding contact with your face: do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with your hands.
4. Probably the most simple yet effective measure: washing your hands. Even the cheapest or ordinary soap products will eliminate the virus. The water does not need to be hot or cold. You may use sanitizers, but, unless you’re outside, hand-washing will always be the superior alternative. You’ll want to rinse your hands for 20-30 seconds and do it consistently. Wash your hands:

• After using the restroom
• Before preparing food
• Applying contact lenses
• Applying make-up
• Sneezing or coughing or using a tissue
• Returning home from outside

You’ll also want to pay attention to commonly used spots of the home for the virus: doorknobs, table surfaces, chairs, rails, surfaces in the kitchen and bathroom, toys, electronics, etc. These are “high-touch” surfaces, meaning they are likely a hotspot for spreading the virus. Disinfecting completely depends on the product, but it’s always safe to keep surfaces exposed to wipes and sprays wet for a few minutes for optimal effectiveness.

For such a dangerous aerially transmitted virus, it is essential that you keep the air inside your home clean. Poor ventilation and heating systems may allow the virus to enter your home. Using humidifiers or air purifiers can be effective in keeping your air clean and healthy(of course, it is important to follow the product’s specific instructions).

When returning home from crowded public places, you should immediately change into clean clothes. Bedsheets, towels, clothes, and other fabrics are to be changed and cleaned regularly. Dirty clothes should not be shaken as they may disperse the virus around. When doing laundry, the contents should be washed at warm temperatures and dried completely. If you’re doing laundry at a laundromat, you’ll want to follow the social distancing guidelines.

In terms of food and any other dining, you should consider cooking at home instead of eating out. If you choose to have food delivered to you or pick up pre-made food, you should(UNICEF, 2020):

• Dispose of unnecessary packaging
• Use clean plates rather than take-out containers
• Use clean utensils rather than ones given by take-out places
• Wipe packages clean
• Wash produce and meat
• Wash your hands well before preparing or eating food

Following these tips just may deter the virus from entering your home. Now, preventing coronavirus isn’t the only reason for cleaning. A spotless home comes with a plethora of other benefits such as better mental health, finances, food choice, as well as more activity and productiveness(Clean and Simple, 2020; Goff, 2020). Therefore, while COVID-19 is the priority, these side-benefits should also entice and motivate you to get to cleaning!

References

UNICEF. (2020, April 13). Cleaning and Hygiene tips to help keep the COVID-19 virus out of your home. Retrieved March 09, 2021, from https://www.unicef.org/mena/stories/cleaning-and-hygiene-tips-help-keep-covid-19-virus-out-your-home

Clean and Simple. (2020, September 16). Five surprising health benefits of a clean home – Clean&simple cleaning. Retrieved March 12, 2021, from https://cleanandsimplecleaning.com/benefits-of-clean-home/

Goff, K. (2020, November 13). 6 health benefits of a clean home. Retrieved March 12, 2021, from https://www.mymove.com/heating-cooling/guides/health-benefits-of-a-clean-home/ 

Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic:

Our mental health has been severely degraded as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people fear for themselves, their friends, and their families. Many have lost their jobs—their means to feeding and sustaining their families. As a result of the numerous lifestyle changes from the pandemic, people have become incredibly stressed. And, consequently, the stress has led to changes in eating habits, sleep schedules, and social interactions. A large amount of stress can cause some seriously strong emotions in some and may even escalate to depression or panic attacks. While everyone is at risk, the most susceptible to stress are health care providers and those with preexisting conditions. An individual’s background or social status usually plays into how they react to their stress, also. Needless to say, the pandemic has put an almost unbearable amount of pressure on everyone and led to a substantial decrease in people’s psychological well-being. First, it may be helpful to understand why we are feeling this way. Then, I’ll provide some insight on how you can cope with stress.

How is COVID-19 different from other disasters?

We already know that mental disorders significantly increase after natural catastrophes. For example, victims of an earthquake experience severe trauma, anxiety, and even potentially develop depression or post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD). In such cases, many tend to persist and things return to normal not long after. COVID-19 is different, it’s invisible. We don’t know where it is, when we’re safe, or if things will get better. Moreover, this pandemic has been especially harsh due to the unpreparedness of our healthcare system. An already feeble system has been overwhelmed by the detrimental psychological effect the virus has had on people. Those who’ve unfortunately lost a loved one aren’t even able to visit them due to restrictions. Also unlike other disasters, there’s no disaster response. We can only receive help virtually which is, obviously, an inferior alternative to physical appointments. The mixed and confusing messages sent by the government and healthcare agencies haven’t helped, either. The COVID-19 pandemic is different, and it may be productive in and of itself to simply acknowledge that and stay strong.

Here are some tips on how you can help cope with the overwhelming stress and paranoia:

• Decrease your news intake. Being updated on the virus is helpful but constantly hearing about the pandemic can be distressing. Disconnecting from social media and news may help you feel more relaxed and take your mind off the pandemic.
• Taking care of your physical body can, subsequently, help your mental health. Get a good amount of sleep, exercise when possible, eat healthy(avoid take-out and follow food guidelines), avoid alcohol or tobacco use.
• Follow the guidelines provided by healthcare professionals: wear face masks, maintain social distancing, practice cleanliness, and try to receive vaccination ASAP

One of the best things you can do to cope with stress is just unwind and do the things you like. I can say that video games and socializing virtually have been the primary source of enjoyment for me. Back before the pandemic, I used to go to my friends’ houses and play Dungeons and Dragons, a popular tabletop roleplaying game.

After my illness and the pandemic had struck, I was stuck home. The online classes provided me with some interactions with my classmates but they also came with homework—which didn’t exactly help. The worst part was missing out on my friend’s graduation party(see My Illness in March). Nevertheless, we managed to find a time and started figuring out how to play D&D virtually. Not only was it an amazing experience but it was a huge burst of stress-relief for me personally. It didn’t have to be roleplaying—just any time spent with friends or, really, any humans was highly enjoyable. Try and virtually connect with people in your community or organizations that you know of. Find clubs at your school or university that you think you might enjoy. Any social interaction during a time like this can be extremely beneficial to your mental health(CDC, 2021).

References

CDC. (2021). Mental health and coping during covid-19. Retrieved March 09, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.htm