Looking to cope?

The whole world is experiencing a very sudden transition into staying at home and isolating from people—not to mention our typical day to day activities like going to class, or work, or even things like grocery shopping may look totally different. It’s okay to feel however you’re feeling. It can be overwhelming to figure out what to do next or how to cope, and some people may use drugs or alcohol as a way to manage some of these feelings. While this may help in the moment, it might start to make things harder in the long-term. Here are some great suggestions and resources to consider when looking for effective coping skills.

• Don’t forget to breathe. Sometimes it helps to count to 5 as you inhale and exhale.
• Talk a walk—inside or out—and pay attention to your 5 senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell)
• Do whatever physical activity you enjoy
• Check out Dr. Bradbury’s self-care toolkit (she’s a UT professor in the Psychology department!)
• Read Healthy Horns - Staying Well While Staying Home
• Take a look at Coping in Times of Uncertainty: COVID-19 Resources from Dell Med
• Check out the self-care resources provided by UT MD Anderson (scroll to the bottom of the page)
• Review suggestions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on stress & coping, NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness) NAMI Resource Guide, or the Anxiety and Depression Association of American offer some helpful tips as well: ADAA Expert Tips