Everything's Canceled: Coping Tips Straight from a Psychologist

This whole coronavirus thing is messing up every aspect of society. School is no exception, with millions of students now stuck at home dealing with a bunch of new stress. How do you deal with so much uncertainty in the time of coronavirus? We partnered with Peer Health Exchange for this episode. Check out their health resources for teens here: https://www.peerhealthexchange.org/ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss a video! https://bit.ly/3tNKzhV And follow us on Instagram and Twitter! https://www.instagram.com/abovethenoisepbs/ https://twitter.com/ATN_PBS **What are some general tips to deal with uncertainty and the anxiety it can cause?** Here are some tips, straight from psychologist Natalie Todd, Clinical Director of the Child and Adolescent Mood and Anxiety Clinic at the University of California, San Francisco. Tip 1 - establish a routine. It doesn’t have to be the same routine you had when you were working or when school was still in session. Keep a schedule of basic stuff you need do, like when you’re going to go to sleep, when you’re going to eat, and when you’re going to get your work done. But don’t forget to schedule time to just relax or talk to your friends. That’s JUST as important. Tip 2 -- reach out to people. It sucks to not be able to hang out in person with your friends. But with technology, you can try to recreate those moments. Tip 3 -- limit how much time you spend reading about coronavirus. It’s fine to keep up-to-date with the latest coronavirus news, but don’t just keep sitting there, constantly refreshing your browser. Tip 4 -- use the time you have to stretch yourself a bit. Challenge yourself with a new activity or learn a new skill that you didn’t have time for before the coronavirus trapped you at home. RESOURCES Coping with stress due to the coronavirus via the CDC https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html Mental health coping strategies via the National Alliance on Mental Illness https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/March-2020/Coronavirus-Mental-Health-Coping-Strategies TEACHERS: Get your students in the discussion on KQED Learn, a safe place for middle and high school students to investigate controversial topics and share their voices. https://learn.kqed.org/discussions/ About KQED KQED serves the people of Northern California with a public-supported alternative to commercial media. An NPR and PBS member station based in San Francisco, KQED is home to one of the most listened-to public radio stations in the nation, one of the highest-rated public television services, and an award-winning education program helping students and educators thrive in 21st-century classrooms. A trusted news source, leader, and innovator in interactive technology, KQED takes people of all ages on journeys of exploration — exposing them to new people, places, and ideas. Funding for KQED’s education services is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Koret Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the AT&T Foundation, the Crescent Porter Hale Foundation, the Silver Giving Foundation, Campaign 21 donors, and members of KQED.