POTSDAM - As our world continues to fight a pandemic, and natural disasters are occurring on a regular basis, we all need to practice self-care now more than ever.

National Wellness Month could easily be renamed Wellness Year for 2021. St. Lawrence Health Behavioral Health Director Jayme Smith, PsyD, noted self-care isn’t optional right now.

“Self-care is necessary for ensuring we can continue to function today, if not better than yesterday,” Dr. Smith said. “Everyone needs to ensure their bodies and minds are being treated well and are being allowed to function optimally.”

Exercising, sleeping well, eating healthily, engaging in hobbies, making time to be with others who make us happy, journal writing, and meditation are a few examples of how we can be good to ourselves.

Some people feel guilty for taking personal down-time, as they think others will view them with criticism. Dr. Smith noted we need to move beyond that type of unhealthy thinking.

“Do you feel guilty for getting your car's oil changed? Of course not because you know if you don't, it will breakdown. The same is true with humans; we have to invest some time and energy into taking care of ourselves, otherwise we will breakdown, too. The healthier we are, inside and out, the better job we can do of taking care of others and functioning properly,” she explained.

When we first heard of the coronavirus many people thought it would be over in a few months. Now that we are into the second year and the delta variant has reared its ugly head, the feelings of anxiety felt during the onset of the virus may have returned. You may find you have a short fuse, are feeling fatigued easily, are dealing with negative mood swings, have low energy levels, or are easily moved to tears.

“There are several ways to manage your emotions and anxieties,” Dr. Smith noted. “First you have to acknowledge your stress level, and evaluate what can be taken off your plate for right now.

“Talk to your co-workers and/or supervisor about how to best streamline your tasks. Maybe there are steps that can be taken to reduce your stress in the workplace. You could share your stress concerns with your partner or friends to blow off some steam; they might be able to recommend some solutions to help reduce your stress. An important thing to do is schedule self-care time and hold yourself accountable for sticking to it,” she added.

Examples of healthy habits people can work into their routines include picking a healthy recipe to cook one night a week, spend time with family and friends, schedule time for exercise on a regular basis (even if it’s for just 15 minutes), or download an app that calms and sooths you and listen to it daily.

If you or someone you care for has tried various scenarios to lower their anxiety but nothing seems to help, it may be time to schedule an appointment to talk with a specialist.

“If you are unable to find joy in previously enjoyable activities, if your depressive moods or anxious thoughts get in the way of completing daily tasks, if you have thoughts of hurting yourself or others, or you see a significant change in your eating or sleeping patterns, please contact us. Our Behavioral Health team has offices in Gouverneur and Potsdam, and we have a 24/7 Emotional Support Line,” Dr. Smith said, noting the support line number is 315.261.5395.

To learn about St. Lawrence Health’s Behavioral Health services, visit https://www.stlawrencehealthsystem.org/services/behavioral-health. Short videos on how to cope during COVID may be viewed at https://www.stlawrencehealthsystem.org/coping-during-covid.