Just how do you stay sane in ISO?
What a fortnight it’s been for our Sunshine State and New South Welsh mates and for the West Aussies who traveled east. If you took a trip across the country (as I did) you might have faced torrential rain, rising floodwaters, roadblocks, logistical nightmares and yet another reemergence of Covid-19 in the community. And then, if you returned from Queensland before border restrictions were reinstated this week you’re likely to be in mandatory quarantine through Easter, along with our fellow WA citizens who are finally home from abroad and those already in self-isolation (I’m with you).
It’s clear that this rate of uncertainty and change is here to stay and we all have to get comfortable with it, but prolonged and unpredictable disruption can have an adverse impact on our nervous system, brain and body as well as our social and financial foundations. For those already vulnerable to mental distress and hardship, the effects of being thrust into a situation akin to solitary confinement can be detrimental, as Australian and international research on the psychological impacts of lockdown, isolation and quarantine has shown. These negative effects can lead to confusion and anger, fear about personal health and safety, as well as access to support and supplies, loss of income, boredom, despondency, depression and stigma.
So, how do you stay sane in isolation?
It is often assumed by patients that practitioners can’t possibly take their own medicine but of course, that’s not the case — we all need to practice basic self-governance and personal care. Doing so is extremely important to buffer our emotional and physical system against the turbulence of extremes. For starters, we have to come to terms with the fact that change is constant as the cycles of nature and seasons show us. Guidance can be drawn from the ancient Chinese philosophical work of Lao Tze, the Tao Te Ching. He writes:
“Supreme good is like water. Water greatly benefits all things, without conflict. It flows through places that people loathe. Thereby it is close to the Way.“
In other words, go with the flow (like water) and you will find your path to peace (the Way) — this is the art of acceptance. We have to recognise that our mental attitude and perceptions of circumstances as either positive or negative, dictates our sense of happiness and overall wellbeing.
The field of positive psychology focuses on the positive influences, experiences and strengths in a person’s life. Though it runs the risk of dismissing adversity, the model is based on the premise that positive thoughts and emotions build internal fortitude and increase life satisfaction, despite the circumstances. Developing a daily gratitude practice will train your brain to focus on what’s good. And there’s scientific evidence for doing so — gratitude can increase psychological hardiness, strengthen relationships, improve decision-making, and reduce stress and depression.
ISO is also the perfect opportunity to Marie Kondo your house, clean out the junk, learn a new skill, spend time in the garden, paint, read books, take a nice long bath, stretch your body, listen to feel-good tunes, make a financial plan, explore future travel plans, and lastly, reach out to your networks. As the world has mobilised resources to manage the Covid-19 public health crisis, many doctors, counselors, therapists, and coaches have moved their practices online. And you can access a diverse range of health and wellbeing practitioners around the world, right from your living room. Whilst we will relish the freedom that awaits, we can also use this period as an opportunity to reflect on all that is good in life.
13COVID: 13 26843
Beyond Blue: 1800 512 348
Lifeline: 13 11 14
This article was first published in The West Australian in Renée Gardiner’s weekly column in Agenda, 3 April 2021.