Citizens Memorial Hospital | Vitality | Spring 2021

Why masks andmore still matter Once you’ve received your COVID-19 vaccine, you can take off your mask and stop social distancing, right? Not quite yet. Health experts are urging that everyone continue taking precautions not to spread the virus, even after they’ve received their shots. Why is that? It may take a while before everyone has had a chance to get a vaccine. In the meantime, people are still vulnerable to the virus. And because no vaccine is 100% effective, you may still be at risk too. So we need to continue using every tool we have to fight the spread. WHEN CAN I STOP WEARINGA MASK? We don’t know enough about the vaccine or the virus yet to predict when it’ll be safe to stop wearing a mask or social distancing. But at least two things need to happen first: 1} A large number of Americans need to get the shot. 2} We need to be sure the vaccine offers long-term protection. Once those things happen, we may begin to see herd immunity. GETTINGTO HERD IMMUNITY Herd immunity occurs when enough people are protected against a virus that it’s unlikely to spread widely anymore. It’s not yet clear how many people will need to be vaccinated before we reach herd immunity. But once we do, we should be able to stop wearing masks and socially distancing. Until then, help keep your community safe by masking up and staying 6 feet from others. Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Johns Hopkins Medicine STAYING WELL Coping with the stress from a traumatic event Everyone experiences stress in their life, like the stress from a bad day at work or an upsetting argument with a partner. But the shock of dealing with a traumatic event— such as a violent crime, the COVID-19 pandemic, or a hurricane or other disaster—can bring about a cascade of difficult emotions. No matter what causes it, traumatic stress can affect your well-being. You may feel sad, anxious and worried about the future. You may be angry and on edge and have unexplained pains or trouble sleeping. The road to recovery It can take time to heal from traumatic stress. Meantime, here are some things that mental health experts say you can do to help feel better. Be good to yourself. Do your best to get plenty of healthy foods, exercise and rest. Supporting your body helps you deal with stress. And exercise provides a mood lift. If you feel like you need alcohol to cope, try to remember that in the long run, it will likely make things worse. Cut back on bad news. While being informed is important, the 24-hour news and social media cycle can push anxiety to the brink. Reach out to family and friends. Spending time with those you trust can bring a sense of comfort. If you can’t connect in person, maybe you can call, text or video chat. You don’t have to talk about what you’ve been through unless you want to. Make time for yourself. Carve out at least a few minutes each day for activities you enjoy, whether that’s working on a hobby or reading a book. Ask for help. If you feel overwhelmed, talk to your health care provider or a mental health expert. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has a helpline you can call if you are experiencing distress related to a natural or human-caused disaster and want to talk. Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; HelpGuide CALL 800-985-5990 to speak with a trained crisis counselor 24/7, 365 days a year. You can also text TalkWithUs to 66746 . 4 VITALITY Spring 2021