COVID-19: YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

The Citizen has asked a group of medical and research experts to answer reader questions about COVID-19. Here’s today’s query (and we’ll try to answer others as we receive them):

Q We’re going a little “stir crazy” staying inside. Can you offer quick mental health tips for those stuck indoors?

A (Courtesy of Dr. Gail Beck, a child psychiatrist and Clinical Director of Youth Mental Health at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre.)

If people are feeling cooped up and tired of being inside, it’s important to remember that, as long as you keep a distance of two metres between yourself and other people, public health experts say it’s OK to go outside for a walk or do yardwork and play.

If you really cannot get outside and you find yourself becoming more and more anxious, connect online with friends if you have access to a device and wifi; most wireless companies have become more forgiving of wireless usage so why not take advantage of this? With an account, you can also download a magazine from the library or a film or an audiobook. CBC has all of its programming available free for the time being; this will provide a lot of entertainment for you and your family.

Music and exercise are the two activities that most consistently help us manage anxiety or depression so you can get out your playlist, or build a new one. You can also find exercise websites online: for example https://www. youtube.com/user/yogawithadriene which features yoga.

Also, remember that if mindfulness exercises help you relax, the Royal’s Healthy Minds App has several good tools embedded in it to help you manage stress: https:// www.theroyal.ca/resource-library/healthy-minds-app