Coping With The Coronavirus as a Healthcare Worker

Welcome to SaturYourDay. Today, I have decided to write about my personal experience with the coronavirus, or COVID-19, as a healthcare worker and tips that you can use to help you through this crisis. As many of you know from reading my blog, I have worked as a Psychiatric Screener for the past 15 years in the healthcare industry. If you don’t know what a Psychiatric Screener allow me to explain. A Psychiatric Screener is licensed in the state of New Jersey to determine if individuals are a danger to themselves or others, or if persons have thoughts of wanting to harm themselves or someone else. I evaluate adults over the age of 18 in their homes, at local hospitals, police stations, and other secure locations throughout the community. Anytime I go out into the community, I go with a police officer who assists in making sure the scene is safe and that the patient is transported to the nearest emergency room. However, since the outbreak of the coronavirus our unit isn’t conducting much mobile outreach into the community unless it is absolutely necessary. As a screener, I have a decent rapport and good relationship with the local law enforcement officials throughout the county. I currently work and live in Essex County, NJ, which is the second New Jersey county most affected by the Coronavirus. Our department is located inside the emergency room and even though we have a separate department from the medical side of the emergency room, we still have to walk through the main emergency room to get into the crisis unit. I remembered towards the end of February, there were maybe one or two patients that possibly had the coronavirus and now at the end of March, there are countless patients coming into the hospital believing that they have Covid-19.

Very recently on my social media channels, I have started documenting my experience dealing with COVID-19. I am considered to be essential personnel, so I am required to work. I am doing everything humanly possible to protect myself from contracting Covid 19 including praying, meditating, wearing the Protective Clothing when going outside of my house especially when I go into work, cooking all of my food, taking my vitamins daily, constantly watching my hands, and even obeying the stay at home order when I am not scheduled to work. On the flip side, others are not. I live by myself in my own apartment, however, the building I live in has other tenants. I am telling you, I am constantly hearing my neighbors go in and out when I am home during the day and when I come home from work at night. I get off from work at midnight and live very close to my job, so it doesn’t take me very long to get home. Almost every night I hear my neighbors going in and out of their apartments well after 1:00 am.

Governor Phil Murphy issued mandatory stay at home orders for all NJ residents on Saturday, March 21^. There are still people disobeying the law by doing whatever they want to do which is causing the rapid spread of COVID-19 in our community. What others don’t take seriously, can affect the wellbeing of the others who are trying to protect themselves. I have learned over the years that I can’t control other people’s behaviors, but just my own. I have to decided to provide you with quick tips to help you during this time.

Tip 1: Burning White Sage.

White sage is a natural herb that you can purchase from Whole Foods or online from Walmart or Target. I suggest burning sage regularly because Lysol spray is basically sold out everywhere plus Lysol is a chemical, which is not healthy to be spraying daily into the air. Sage kills 94% of the airborne pathogens can last up to 24 hours. White Sage does have a strong odor, which smells similar to weed. Sage smells is often mistaken for weed so when you burn it just let your family know what it is before you burn it.

Tip 2: Taking Vitamins

As I mentioned earlier, you have to make sure you take more than just a multi-vitamin daily, especially during these challenging times. Add to your vitamin regimen, a vitamin C, D3, Iron (especially from women who suffer from being anemic), and black seed oil. The pill of the black seed oil is fine to take, but I take the liquid, which tastes horrible, but gets into my system much quicker. These vitamins will help build up your immune system to help you fight off any viruses that you may come into contact with.  

Tip 3: Clothing

I know that the weather is starting change, but the coronavirus is still in the air even though you can’t see or smell it. You have to be aware of it no matter how many sunny and beautiful days that may come our way. You have to cover your hair because the virus in the air. In addition, make sure you are wearing long sleeves and pants when you go outside even when it is warm outside. It more than likely will be uncomfortable, but you are doing this to protect yourself. However, if you don’t wear the long sleeves and pants outdoors, make sure the first thing you do when you come back into the house is to take a shower and throw your clothes into a plastic bag (if you don’t have washing machine). When I go into work, I wear two layers of clothing due to working in the emergency room and coming into contact with so many sick people. I treat every person that comes to the ED, as if they have Coronavirus because I don’t know who does or doesn’t have it.

Tip 4: Limited Your Intake of Social Media/The News

I believe to help with stress, depression, and anxiety you will have to limit your intake of social media/news about the Coronavirus. Since most of us at home and some of us are working from home as well, use the time to get things done around the house whether that is organizing, spring cleaning, etc. You can spend your time and energy focusing on things that will keep your mind on a positive and constructive activities to complete.

Tip 5: Prayer/Meditation

One of the most important things that has helped me through my life is prayer and meditation. Prayer helps me stay to God-centered throughout my day. As a prayer warrior, I am constantly praying for people throughout my day as so many people are suffering. I am very thankful that God has given to me this gift to pray as feel like I am not just helping myself, but countless of other people that God has placed into my spirit to pray for. I am very thankful to God for blessing me with food on the table, clothes on my back, and a roof over my head. I believe when you are thankful for just the smallest things in life that shows God how truly grateful you are towards Him. In addition, meditation is something that I practice daily as I play my singing bowls, which are helping lift my energy and the energy of those around me. It very important for me to meditate with my singing bowls at least once a day as it helps for me to stay positive and focused.

I pray that my personal experience that I have shared will help you to cope with the COVID-19 better. Please feel to share your comments and suggestions, I would love to hear from you. Until then, I am looking forward to sharing my next blog post on Saturday, May 2 at 11am ET. In the meantime make sure you connect with us on the social media links, remembered to be safe, stay positive, and if God is for you, who can be against you? I love you, and God Bless.

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