FROM CARRIE KUBACKI, HEALTH & WELLNESS EDUCATOR, UW-MADISON EXTENSION

By now, most of us have experienced the mental and emotional effects of COVID-19 on our daily lives. Whether the cause is fear and anxiety, loss of jobs and normal routines or social isolation, many individuals and families may be struggling to cope with the challenges of life. It is in these times that people may turn to alcohol and other drugs to numb their feelings or escape from reality. Using substances for these reasons, however, can create even more problems, including an increased risk of overdose, addiction, financial insecurity and mental instability. As well, people in recovery may be having even more difficulty finding regular support and avoiding relapse due to safer at home orders and agency closings.

Staying connected to family and friends, maintaining regular self-care routines and contacting helplines can assist all individuals in managing their emotions. However, for those who occasionally use alcohol or other drugs or for those already addicted or in recovery, it is especially important to know what other resources are available to help during these difficult times. Below is a list resources for substance use, addiction and recovery:

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Managing Substance Use and Addiction during Covid-19 - Antigo Times News

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Web chats slated to help Westmoreland parents adjust to students' virtual learning - TribLIVE

Is it possible to shield your children from pandemic anxiety by masking your own feelings?

According to a new study, the answer is no.

Whats more, parents who are anxious can actually transmit these emotions to their kids.

Researchers from Washington State University analyzed 107 parents and their children.

They started by getting a baseline emotional reading from both and then studying their responses after parents had performed a stressful activity.

In their study, published in the Journal of Human Psychology, researchers reported that suppressing parental stress wasnt an effective strategy in mitigating kids stress levels.

While the research doesnt relate directly to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, experts say its lessons are directly applicable to current events.

The stress task in our study was pretty mild and short-lived, while for many families the stress of COVID-19 and social isolation is much more intense and chronic, Sara Waters, PhD, lead study author and an assistant professor in Washington States Department of Human Development, told Healthline.

These are different, but its likely that if were feeling stressed out about something, including the pandemic, then our children are experiencing some stress about it, too, Waters said. Even very young children are more sensitive to our emotional states than wed like to think.

Children pick up on our emotional state whether we acknowledge it or not, so when we say everything is fine even though its not, it can be confusing for children and it tells them that we should avoid feeling our negative emotions, Waters said. This does not mean that we should share all the details of our upset with our children or that we should take our stress out on them.

So where can parents draw the line between shielding their kids from upsetting news and letting them know whats going on?

Some of it comes down to a childs age. Naturally, a teenager is going to be more aware of current events than a toddler, for example.

It comes down to emotional honesty in both parent and child.

Waters says this starts with parents finding ways to manage their own stress effectively, which starts with acknowledging it to their kids.

Its OK to not be OK right now, she said.

From there, parents can open a dialogue with their children, asking them what their friends are talking about, what theyre worried about, and listen carefully.

Be honest with them about the situation without sharing more information than is needed, Waters said. Acknowledge to them that you are stressed and then show them what you do to help yourself feel calmer and better. This makes you a role model of emotional resilience for your children.

By now its well understood that COVID-19 is highly contagious.

However, even in a safely quarantined family, stress and fear can also be contagious.

Emotional contagion is a real deal, explained Melissa Wesner, licensed clinical professional counselor and founder of LifeSpring Counseling Services. Its important for parents to realize that children, and humans in general, are perceptive and know when something is off.

To help their children cope, parents also need to find ways to personally cope.

Wesner told Healthline that prioritizing self-care can be helpful. This includes journal writing, meditation, self-check-ins, and discussions with friends and family.

When it comes to helping children manage stress levels, Wesner suggests creating or maintaining a routine. Continuing regular family rituals such as dinner and bedtime can establish continuity.

For kids who are having trouble expressing themselves verbally, activities like playtime, drawing, and sharing can help them express their feelings.

With children and other family members stuck at home, Wesner says this creates an opportunity for family connection, such as a dance party in the living room or movie night.

Kids can also be encouraged to connect with their friends or extended family members over the phone or via video chat.

Parents who are able to recognize and address their own stress and anxiety will be able to provide a calmer environment for their children, Wesner said.

Parental strategies are likely to differ depending on the age of their children.

Younger children are more likely to see the pandemic as the vague reason school has been disrupted while older kids will be more plugged into the realities of COVID-19.

Laurie Gelb, a board certified patient advocate, told Healthline that depending on the age of your kids, discussing current events may entail brutal honesty.

Share age-appropriate personal, social, and economic impact information with children, Gelb said. If you have lost a job, have seen reduced income, or have had to change housing for any reason, you can acknowledge this as well while stating with the truth that many others are worse off.

The courage of conviction is very important for kids that the world is not going away, but we are engaging with it more carefully for a while, she said.

Gelb points out that parents of older children will need to not just check in with their kids periodically but also dispel misinformation that their kids may have picked up online.

This misinformation and negativity can cause anxiety and even in the midst of a global pandemic, theres a place for optimism.

Address these myths directly: Were not all going to die of COVID-19, and the virus isnt an international conspiracy, said Gelb. Most important for your kids and you is to emphasize whats known, how so many people are stepping up to help each other, from health professionals to volunteers, and that were learning more every day that will help us stay safe.

More here:
How Parents Can Help Themselves and Children with COVID-19 Stress - Healthline

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New Delhi: The Union government has saluted the efforts of several self-help groups (SHGs) across the country for having stitched over one crore face masks to help Indias fight against the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

It shows relentless effort, positive energy and united resolve of SHGs to fight Covid-19 under DAY-NULM flagship scheme of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MHUA), a PIB release stated.

The MHUA made special mention of women. At the core of this proud moment is a strong face of female entrepreneurs supported by the mission. Their resilience is motivating others to multiply the efforts with more energy and determination. It is women empowerment safeguarding lives in true sense, the ministry noted.

Samrudhhi Area Level Federation (ALF) president Shubhangi Chandrakant Dhaygude says collects orders through phone and stitches masks at her home in Titwala, Maharashtra. She, and her team of 45 women have made 50,000 masks already.

Meenu Jha, member of Savarni SHG in Kota, confesses that she did not imagine this small step can inspire so many others.

Runjhun SHG member Rashmi, from Nagaon, has been busy preparing masks using gamocha, Assams traditional cloth. She is proud that gamocha has today become a symbol of health, safety and hygiene in the country.

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Women To The Fore: 1 Crore Face Masks Made By Self-Help Groups In India - OdishaBytes

COMMUNITY hubs created to combat the coronavirus crisis are set to stay as a new neighbourhood model of providing public services starts to take shape.

Every community will have a permanent hub which will be made up of volunteers with support from local authorities to help set its own agenda, its priorities and to organise the capacity to respond to their needs.

Residents are already able to contact their community hubs for help with food and medicine supplies if they are clinically vulnerable to COVID-19.

But now, these hubs, which are currently staffed by 100 council workers and 500 volunteers, will offer wider wellbeing support for everyone including befriending support, self-help guidance and other wellbeing materials.

Bury Councils deputy chief executive Lynne Ridsdale said the community hubs are already established and their work is going really well.

She said: We all feel theres a potential gap for people who dont meet the threshold for formal support but just need some social support someone to talk to.

The social impacts [of coronavirus] are coming through and we need a way of managing that as well.

We talked about the concept of a neighbourhood model before so now, lets be ambitious and grab the opportunity.

Over the coming weeks,20,000 leaflets will be produced and displayed in high footfall areas, such as shops and surgeries, to make clear that community hubs can offer support with food and medical supplies as well as general wellbeing advice and support.

In addition, the leader of the council will write toall Bury residents aged 70 and above to promote the offer on a targeted basis.

All requests for help and engagement as a result of this promotion will be received by the councils contact centre which will have a structured triage process to direct queries to either community hubs or specialist services according to requirement.

This process will integrate the wider mental health support system which is being expanded.

Requests for food, medical supplies or general wellbeing will be managed by the hubs which will direct peopleto volunteer help, self-service advice or online resources, and thoserequestingbefriending support will be directed to Age UK Bury, with whom the council has an existing service arrangement.

Chief executive Geoff Little said that the council is already looking at how it will adjust to the new normal once the coronavirus outbreak is contained.

He said: We are not through this by any stretch of the imagination. We have to keep focused on response as well as the recovery phase.

But to bring together the integrated neighbourhood teams for health and care and integrate community hubs we could only dream of doing that before COVID-19. We need to make that the new normal.

During the emergency response the hubs will be staffed by more than 100 council staff and a network of over 500 volunteers.

Over time, the intention is that the hubs are led by community groups and individual volunteersthemselves with minimal council support.

Bury NHS clinical commissioning group (CCG) chair, Dr Jeff Schryer, revealed last week that people have already started to seek help from community hubs for mental health support without seeing their GPs .

He added:Our trajectory has been blown off course, but its not been blown in the wrong way.

COVID-19 has been very challenging but its also brought some opportunities and as we start to move towards recovery, theres going to be some really big challenges but there will be some real opportunities as well.

Bury Council and CCG have given the green light to establish five neighbourhood networks across the borough, each of which will be comprise of three interconnected teams made up of the existing integrated health teams together with permanent community hubs and a third new network for all the public service people working in an area.

Read more:
Community hubs created to combat coronavirus crisis here to stay as 'new normal' - Bury Times

As we navigate the new normal of staying home, working from home and parenting from home, the state of constant uncertainty and transition can take a toll on our mental and emotional health.

Adjusting to the times is something that we all have had to do, and I am happy to share tools to help you combat the mental and emotional stress you might be feeling. Ive been guiding my patients on how to do acupressure on themselves through virtual Traditional Chinese Medicine Sessions and supplementary YouTube videos.

Acupressure is a similar technique to acupuncture, but instead of needles, you use your hands to manipulate acupuncture points on the body. A systematic review of studies found it can be just as effective as acupuncture: various outcomes included managing nausea and vomiting, reducing pain, and decreasing insomnia and fatigue.

During these times, I developed a COVID-19 survival kit to help those that are sick and unable to leave home. This kit has been critical in preventing and treating symptoms related to the disease. I also recommend using acupressure for anyone who is looking to de-stress and relieve the tension that can build up in your body after long hours in front of the computer.

Acupressure works by firmly pressing trigger points on the body so that you feel a slight tenderness. This creates clear pathways in which energy can flow throughout the organs of the body, helping to contribute to boosting the bodys own natural ability to metabolize, boost immunity, and relieve stress. Combined with meditative breathing techniques, its a sure-fire way to relax.

You can work on specific acupressure points yourself by using your thumb and pressing each point for a minimum of 30 seconds with a clockwise circular pressure and doing 5-10 deep breaths for each point you press.

These are my top five acupressure points that I recommend to my patients:

Location: Top of the Wrist

Meridian: Outer Gate Point

Benefits: Boosts immunity and energy levels

Location: In Between Eyebrows

Meridian: Hall of Impression Point

Benefits: Relieves stress and anxiety

Location: The Upper Shell of your Ear

Meridian: Heavenly Gate Point

Benefits: Relieves anxiety and stress, reduces incidences of insomnia

Location: The Crease of Your Wrist Between Pinky and Ring Finger

Meridian: Heart 7

Benefits:Reduces anxiety, depression and insomnia

Location: Outside of your Hand Below Pinky Finger

Meridian: Small Intestine 3

Benefits: Relieves neck pain, earaches and headaches

In addition to acupressure, there are other ways you can incorporate self help into your routine. Its key to manage your routinewake up and get dressed even though you are working from home and only have video meetings. Make sure to maintain a schedule, as our body has its own natural circadian rhythm, and when there is too much transition it can be very hard for the body to self-regulate.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the heart and mind are one, known as Shen. Eat foods that look like hearts such as raspberries, tomatoes and strawberries are nourishing. Foods high in magnesium can help to contribute to calming the mind and alleviating stress.

When our bodies organs and energy pathways are working in harmony, our body has the ability to fight off disease and sickness. It is imperative that we have tools to combat mental and emotional stress, otherwise, they can become physical symptoms.

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Video: A Guide To Self-Care Acupressure At Home - Long Island Weekly News

Oregon State Fire Marshal Jim Walker today extended the temporary lifting of the prohibition on self-service gas until May 9.

As WW reported earlier, owners of independent gas stations represented by the Oregon Fuels Association asked Gov. Kate Brown for a temporary suspension of the ban on self-service because they said they faced a shortage of pump attendants, many of whom were ill or disinclined to work face to face with the public.

Oregon and New Jersey are the only two states that don't normally allow self-service gas. (A 2017 Oregon law allows self-service in counties with fewer than 40,000 residents.)

The temporary rule allowing self-service does not require station owners topermit the practice and it does require them to have staff on hand to assist motorists if they need help.

Walker today decided to stick with that practice for another couple of weeks.

"We want to thank Oregonians and Oregon businesses for being flexible during these challenging times," he said in a statement. "As we continue to monitor this ongoing situation, we feel it is best to extend this option for an additional two weeks."

Danelle Romain, a lobbyist for the Oregon Fuels Association, applauded the move.

"Like many small businesses, Oregon's locally owned fuel stations are facing incredible challenges," Romain said in a statement. "Helping them keep fuel attendants safe by giving customers the option of pumping their own fuel is significant. The self-service option is allowing employees to shift their focus from close, face-to-face interaction with customers to keeping pumps and payment mechanisms clean and sanitized for the next customer."

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Oregon Fire Marshal Extends Self-Service Gas Throughout the State Until May 9 - Willamette Week

Bluffton Self Help handed out hundreds of meals Thursday to families who need them but because of an increase in demand due to COVID-19 they are now asking for community support. This is part of WJCL's Project Community: Giving Thursdays.For more than 33 years, Bluffton Self Help has served the Bluffton community and now they are seeing more people in need of food. We are seeing folks come in that have never needed help before that are really finding themselves in a situation that they never thought they would," said Kimberly Hall, executive director of Bluffton Self Help.People in the Bluffton community said they are very thankful for all the donations and community support during the pandemic."There is a need and anything they can donate is much appreciated," said Carol Hurst, who lives in Bluffton.Organizers said the need for supplies is even greater now."Right now we are serving around 320 families a week, which equates to over a thousand neighbors in Bluffton. That is about 12,000 pounds of food a week," said Hall.Organizers said the pandemic isn't going to stop them from making a difference. A lot of moderate income families are really struggling to make ends meet and putting that extra bowl of cereal and peanut butter on the table really makes a difference for them, said Hall.The coronavirus has caused big food drives to be canceled which is a major income of supplies for Bluffton Self Help. Now organizers are encouraging local neighborhoods to get involved. We would love if they would hold community food drives and have a central drop of point and deliver it here or we can come pick it up," said Hall. Organizers say your donations, whether financial or through a food drive, are making all the difference. It means a great deal to me because this will be whether I eat or starve. Because I am on disability and I dont have enough income to support going to the grocery store," said Hurst.Hall said for every $250 they can help feed a family of four for a year.Bluffton Self Help is offering free meals on Mondays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. They have a drive through style pickup at their location in Bluffton. For more information on how you can donate items or moneyyou can go to Bluffton Self Help's website.

Bluffton Self Help handed out hundreds of meals Thursday to families who need them but because of an increase in demand due to COVID-19 they are now asking for community support.

This is part of WJCL's Project Community: Giving Thursdays.

For more than 33 years, Bluffton Self Help has served the Bluffton community and now they are seeing more people in need of food.

We are seeing folks come in that have never needed help before that are really finding themselves in a situation that they never thought they would," said Kimberly Hall, executive director of Bluffton Self Help.

People in the Bluffton community said they are very thankful for all the donations and community support during the pandemic.

"There is a need and anything they can donate is much appreciated," said Carol Hurst, who lives in Bluffton.

Organizers said the need for supplies is even greater now.

"Right now we are serving around 320 families a week, which equates to over a thousand neighbors in Bluffton. That is about 12,000 pounds of food a week," said Hall.

Organizers said the pandemic isn't going to stop them from making a difference.

A lot of moderate income families are really struggling to make ends meet and putting that extra bowl of cereal and peanut butter on the table really makes a difference for them, said Hall.

The coronavirus has caused big food drives to be canceled which is a major income of supplies for Bluffton Self Help. Now organizers are encouraging local neighborhoods to get involved.

We would love if they would hold community food drives and have a central drop of point and deliver it here or we can come pick it up," said Hall.

Organizers say your donations, whether financial or through a food drive, are making all the difference.

It means a great deal to me because this will be whether I eat or starve. Because I am on disability and I dont have enough income to support going to the grocery store," said Hurst.

Hall said for every $250 they can help feed a family of four for a year.

Bluffton Self Help is offering free meals on Mondays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. They have a drive through style pickup at their location in Bluffton.

For more information on how you can donate items or moneyyou can go to Bluffton Self Help's website.

More:
Giving Thursday: Bluffton Self Help is asking for community donations as demand increases - WJCL News

Self-care is my jam.

You can find me doing it multiple times a day with yoga classes, self-help books, and the good old fashion bubble bath.

I consider it a hobby finding ways to treat myself, love myself more, and fill my days focusing inward instead of outward.

When I think back to when I first got into self-care though, it did not always come naturally to me.

When I first discovered it, I was in a toxic relationship, filled to the brim with anxiety, and I was seeking something to help me process the turmoil inside of me.

Self-care was a tool that helped me change my entire life, but I had to master it.

It started as a simple bath. I would fill it up with bubbles, read a poetry book on love, and listen to overly emotional music to melt the night away.

I would sit in that bath and feel, letting go of all the walls of strength I was holding up with the weight of the world on my shoulders.

Over time, self-care taught me how to nurture and love myself. And it has become a necessary part of my daily routine.

The answer, simply stated, is my attitude towards it.

When my attitude changes to one of scarcity instead of abundance, self-care becomes challenging to stick my mind to.

When I am tired, worn out, and lack motivation in general, taking that extra step to show myself love and affection becomes overwhelming.

Instead, it is easier to have an attitude of apathy. So, I turn my back on myself.

When youre mad at someone, do you jump at showing up for them? Probably not. Likewise, it is harder to show up for yourself when you are down in the dumps.

Foolishly, we get upset with ourselves for feeling feelings other than happiness. We become bummed at ourselves for not having a good day.

So when we feel anxious, depressed, tired, and in pain, it is easier to pull away, kick some dirt at ourselves, and scoff off into a world of shame and emptiness.

And that is why we must pull through and do the opposite.

Love ourselves harder when we feel our lowest. Give ourselves care, compassion, and grace when we feel like we dont deserve it. Force love on ourselves, as we would someone whom we believe in but who doesnt believe in themselves.

There is healing in that, power we do not fully understand. So take a bath and read sappy poetry. Put on a face mask and give yourself a manicure. Force yourself through a yoga class or go on the run.

Whatever self-care means for you, do it every single day including the days where you do not feel like doing it at all.

Show up for yourself when you need it most because that is where the power of self-care truly lies.

That is how self-care becomes the greatest act of unconditional love.

This post was previously published on Change Becomes You and is republished here with permission from the author.

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Aspiring writer of all things codependency, relationship, and healing related plus all the life that happens around it. Instagram: @ali_ringer

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Why Self-Care Is Harder When You Need It Most - The Good Men Project

Editor's Note: This is a preview of USA TODAY's newsletter Staying Apart, Together, a guide to helpus all cope with a world changed by coronavirus. If you would like it in your inbox on Tuesdays and Saturdays, subscribe here.

We got it this week. We're ready.

It's USA TODAY TV Critic Kelly Lawler, and Iam back after a few refreshing days off. Mostly I baked things, with the help of this amazing bread cookbook. I know flour and yeast are scarce right now, but I've never felt more prepared to make artisan bread loaves, the shortest recipe of which takes, oh, eight hours.

"Flour Water Salt Yeast" by Ken Forkish(Photo: Kelly Lawler/USA TODAY)

I might never have attempted it pre-coronavirus.It's not for everyone, but man did I love doing it. When the finished product starts to look better, maybe I'll share some pictures with you guys. (Some less-involved bread recipes here.)

Getting unplugged, spending some time outside (six feet apart from anyone else) and enjoying my fresh-baked breadhas been incredibly restorative for me. I'm not saying that I was as rested and raring to go on Monday as I would have been on a normal day in the office, but I felt pretty close. I will ride this wave of energy and determination as long as it lasts. Maybe through, oh, I don't know, Wednesday? Hey, in a pandemic, I'll take what I can get.

Subscribe to Staying Apart, Together for a little joy every Tuesday and Saturday

Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu in CBS's 'Elementary.'(Photo: Michael Parmelee, CBS)

In addition to continuing my questto watch all of the James Bond movies (we just got through "Live and Let Die," and the Paul McCartney theme song is still stuck in my head, I'm not mad) I spent some of my time off revisiting "Elementary" (streaming on Hulu right now). The CBS cop show take on Sherlock Holmes offers simple escapist fare. In this Holmes story,Sherlock (Johnny Lee Miller) moves to New York for rehab, Dr. JoanWatson (Lucy Liu)is a surgeon-turned-sobriety-counselor-turned-investigator,and the deductive genius of Holmes catches killers and saves lives. There isa beautiful simplicity to it, and it has more levity and downright humor than other cop shows like "Law & Order: SVU." Plus, it has more than 150 episodes, so you'll go for awhile without needing to find a new series.

Last week we published a story I wrote in which I talked to psychologists and other experts about the fact that we don't have to be super productive during this time. It's sort of an official OK to just take it easy, focus on your health and your family. We couldn't publish everything the experts told me, so I wanted to share some tidbits from myinterview withneuroscientist Richard J. Davidson, founder of the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.He had more great thoughts on staying calm and centered in quarantine than could fit in my story.

Q: Why do you think there is increased pressure to be productive in quarantine?

Davidson: I think we can be so focused on the immediate needs at work that we fail to adequately consider the context in which the work is occurring.

Q: What is your response to people feeling stress from this pressure?

Davidson: I think we need to pay attention to what they are saying! They are naming something real and important that we must recognize.

Q: If people do find themselves with extra times, how can they practice relaxation and take care of their mental health?

Davidson: It actually does not require any extra time. It simply requires some intentional focus. We can practice relaxing as we are walking, cleaning our house, doing the laundry etc. We can also practice a little self compassion at these times, recognizing that no one is perfect and not being too hard on ourselves for failing to accomplish something in the time we had originally planned, for example. We can also practice appreciation. So much of our lives, particularly in this challenging time, depend upon others. We need others to help us get our food, to pick up the garbage, and of course, to care for our health if that should be needed. Intentionally cultivating appreciation for these many people who are serving others in this challenging time can be enormously helpful in promoting our own well-being.

If you are struggling to explain our new reality to your kids (or grandkids or nieces and nephews), here's a free, downloadablecoloring book fromTender Press Books and Zero to Thrive at the University of Michigan that makes it all a little easier.

Do you like choir music? This will completely blow you away.

We received so many pictures of adorable pets (dogs, cats and even a bunny!), so thank you all for sending them. It makes me so happy to have a little fluffy joy in my inbox. Putting two pets in today's newsletter so you can see as much cuteness as possible.

First up, Mac. His owner says, "Hes a therapy dog and is missing his buddies at the hospital. He cant wait to see them all again and wants them to know they are amazingly awesome!"

"Max"(Photo: Courtesy of Paula Zechman)

Next is three-year-old Boo, who understands the value of shelf-stable foods right now.

"Boo was rescued from a terrible hoarding situation in Northern Iowa and brought into the Northern Illinois Samoyed Assistance rescue (NISA)," says her owner."She was skittish of most people and terrified by loud noises. She stayed with her foster family for over a year before she was finally ready for adoption. We were fortunate to become her Forever Family in August 2019 and love her very much!"

"Boo"(Photo: Courtesy Leslie Allison Seei)

Thank you Mac and Boo. You are very good dogs.

Thats it for this Tuesday. Stay safe, stay well, and I'll be back with more tips and furry friends on Saturday.

All my very best,

Kelly Lawler

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Staying Apart, Together: A cop show, bread and self-care to help you cope with the pandemic - USA TODAY