Three Sunshine Coast doctors once again joined forces online to offer insight and to answer questions about challenging emotions people are facing as pandemic restrictions continue.
“Managing COVID Emotions” was the second in a series of talks on resilience in the face of COVID-19. Every week, the MedTalks LIVE panel – hosted by the Sechelt Hospital Foundation – brings together the combined expertise of Dr. Rahul Gupta, Dr. Lisa Kitt, and Dr. Marius Welgemoed.
Topics discussed included the “contagion of emotions” and maintaining personal boundaries; the concept of neuroplasticity and spending time in the positive to change our brains for the better; and supporting parents and vulnerable children in this hyper-emotional time.
The weekly mindfulness session, led online by Gupta, outlined the STOP meditation technique:
S is for Stop: Take a pause from your usual patterns of thinking into the past or future.
T is for Take a breath: Relax your shoulders, your jaw. Get rid of your armour and soften your body.
O is for Observe and Open your senses: Feel your body’s emotions and thoughts. Make space to notice and acknowledge how things are.
P is for Proceed into the moment: What does your body need? To get outdoors? To connect with someone? A rest? A sip of water?
Watch the full April 14 meditation and discussion, and all past and future talks at www.sechelthospitalfoundation.org/upcoming-medtalks. Medtalks LIVE streams online every Tuesday at 2 p.m. The April 21 theme was “COVID Sadness and Grief” and on April 28 the topic is “COVID Frustration and Anger.”
If you or someone you know is looking for mental health support, a list of resources compiled by the medical panel is available at www.sechelthospitalfoundation.org/live.
Do you have a mental health topic you want discussed? Send in your suggestions using the survey on Sechelt Hospital Foundation’s facebook page.
– Angelina Theilmann, Sechelt Hospital Foundation
