As we all find ourselves coping with the realities associated with COVID-19, it’s natural to be concerned about your student’s well-being during this time of uncertainty and stress. Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is here to help with a few tips.
Do something: Choose connection
- Have your student host a virtual Netflix party. Google Chrome has an application that lets you watch Netflix with other family or friends.
- Play online games together like Minecraft or suggest your student do so with friends. Discord is a platform you can use to play and chat with friends at the same time.
- Looking for something more interactive? Have a virtual game night and use Google Hangouts or Facetime to chat while playing.
- Suggest that your student go old school and phone a friend (but maybe text them first and give them a heads up).
- Start a personal/public blog, website or podcast.
Do something: Choose movement.
- Stretching and movement can help with anxiety and sleep.
- Check out a gentle yoga video done by one of our previous CAPS trainees.
- Choose from a variety of free-trial workout streaming services.
- Suggestions on ways to stay active during COVID-19.
- Free virtual classes through the YMCA, no membership required.
Do Something: Choose nature.
Breathe the fresh air and take in what is around you. Use your 5 senses to connect with nature.
Do Something: Choose self-care.
Acknowledge your feelings. David Kessler, a grief expert, discusses how COVID-19 may be bringing up feelings of grief and anticipatory grief. He provides the following strategies for coping.
Practicing the "Apple" technique can help decrease anxiety and worries:
- Acknowledge: Notice and acknowledge the uncertainty as it comes to mind.
- Pause: Don't react as you normally do. Don't react at all. Pause and breathe.
- Pull back: Tell yourself this is just the worry talking, and this apparent need for certainty is not helpful and not necessary. It is only a thought or feeling. Don't believe everything you think. Thoughts are not statements or facts.
- Let go: Let go of the thought or feeling. It will pass. You don't have to respond to them. You might imagine them floating away in a bubble or cloud.
- Explore: Explore the present moment, because right now, in this moment, all is well. Notice your breathing and the sensations of your breathing. Notice the ground beneath you. Look around and notice what you see, what you hear, what you can touch, what you can smell. Right now. Then shift your focus of attention to something else - on what you need to do, on what you were doing before you noticed the worry, or do something else – mindfully, and with your full attention.
View additional resources for Emotional Wellness and COVID-19.
Remote Service Updates
During this time, CAPS will continue to provide services remotely via telephone or Zoom videoconferencing during regular business hours, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Students can call to make an appointment at (402) 472-7450. (If your student needs support accessing and understanding Zoom, they can visit https://its.unl.edu/services/zoom/.)
Students may speak with a counselor on duty for urgent needs after business hours or if they are in a crisis. To do so, they can call (402) 472-7450 and press 4. If your student is in imminent danger to themselves or others, calling 911 is always the best option.