THE DOCTOR’S SEASONAL SURGERY
Dr Sarah on common health issues
Covid concerns
Q I’m assuming our usual big family gathering won’t happen this year, but we plan to have my sister and her family visit for Christmas. What do we do if one of them develops Covid-19 symptoms while they’re with us? A
Of course, Christmas is going to be very different this year for everyone, courtesy of Covid-19. The most important thing to do is to make contingency plans. After strong criticism for its lack of preparedness and slow response at the start of the pandemic, the Government now looks as if it’s determined to act promptly if the Covid-19 situation changes. So keep an eye on the news or the gov.uk website in the run-up to Christmas.
The local lockdowns, which started with Leicester in July, were an attempt to ensure the whole country avoided the restrictions we saw this spring. At the time, its rate was 140 per 100,000; almost 10 times the average rate in the rest of the country. Since then, there have been regional and international watch lists – when the decision was made at a few hours’ notice to quarantine everyone coming back from Spain, its rate had risen by 75% in just 48 hours.
So do be prepared to have your plans change at short notice. Different UK countries, and different parts of each country, have introduced different restrictions. In September, Scotland banned indoor socialising between households; England moved to the ‘rule of six’ – a maximum of six people, indoor or out (except in areas of highest risk, where indoor socialising between households was made illegal); and in Wales, those six people must be from no more than four households.
If anyone develops symptoms (including fever, cough, loss of or change to their sense of smell or taste), they must self-isolate immediately. They should isolate themselves from everyone else in the household, as well as from the outside world. That means you
should, if possible, have a room in your house set up in advance. The regulations state that if they’re away from home in a public area, they should return home immediately, avoiding public transport if possible. However, if they’re staying in someone else’s home, they should stay there if possible.
All the rest of you in the house would need to stay strictly at home, too, although you can socialise together. The person affected must get a test as soon as possible – these should be running over the Christmas period. If they test positive, everyone in the house needs to self-isolate for 14 days, and the positive person will need to isolate for at least 10 days. If they test negative, you’re free to leave, and they can leave isolation as soon as they feel better.
Dealing with difficult feelings
Q My daughter suffers from depression and she finds Christmas really hard. I know she worries that if she comes to us she’ll drag everyone down, so how do I help her?
A Your daughter is by no means alone. Wherever you look, the world is full of images of uninterrupted jollity over the festive season, and social media has only magnified the impression. If you struggle with your mental health, the unrealistic expectations this often results in, compared with the reality of your life, can put your problems into starker relief than ever.
First, let her know you’re there for her. Talk through with her what she finds most stressful and what she thinks her limits are, and organise your plans around that. Make sure she doesn’t feel pressured into taking part in every activity, and that you appreciate how much effort it takes for her. Make it clear to her that you will understand completely if she wants to duck out of certain events at the last minute.
If she wants to take time out because she’s feeling overwhelmed, don’t draw attention to it. If you have others joining you, be vague about how much time she will be spending with the rest of the gathering so they’re less likely to comment. Remind her that it’s okay to feel the way she’s feeling. Having her feelings acknowledged and validated goes a long way.
Acknowledge to yourself that no matter what efforts you make, you can’t necessarily ‘make things better’ – it’s every mother’s default position, and it can really eat you up. But do try to arrange your own timetable so that you can regularly have some quiet time with her. You could go for a walk with her or simply just sit and listen. But if she doesn’t want to burden you, make sure she’s aware that there are services out there every day, including over the holidays. The Samaritans receive about 400,000 calls in December and 11,000 on Christmas Day alone. While often perceived as a suicide charity, it is, in fact, available to offer a non-judgemental ear to anyone who is struggling.