The COVID-19 CoronaVirus has blindsided the world. One week we’re out and about running through our normal routines, and the next we’re very much not. Even if your city doesn’t currently have a “shelter in place” order, this is a very isolating time–particularly if you were already feeling isolated.

It’s easy to think that you are completely alone in this world. We’re all in this together, and now is a great time to remember and help others remember that. So, what can you do if you’re feeling isolated? What can you do to help others feel less isolated? We thought about that, and here are a few points we came up with: 

Keep Your Health Routine in Order

If you have a condition that requires regular medical check-ups, and this suggestion is a viable option, keeping to your health schedule as much as possible can help with mental wellness. Not only do you get peace of mind and tools to hopefully minimize symptoms, but you get interaction as well. 

It’s not a good time to go out, so you can see if there is an option for virtual visits with your doctor. If you need to go to the hospital, try to keep your distance from others and sanitize your hands regularly. 

Maybe you have a specific routine, such as certain types of exercises that bring relief to your condition. It could be challenging to keep to your routines with all the chaos going on, but it will help maintain some kind of normalcy.

Get Out into the Garden

If you have a garden, now is a great time to use it (provided that you can still stay six feet away from others. There is tons of research out there that proves the benefits gardening has on body and mind. Even dirt has microbes, known by the name Mycobacterium vaccae, that have shown to act as powerful antidepressants that can last up to three weeks at a time. Gardening gives you time to relax and breathe. Growing plants provides a sense of accomplishment. If you can get out into the garden, do

No garden? Try planting herbs in the kitchen, adding flowers to a windowsill, hanging vines, opening windows if possible, and raising houseplants.

Stay Up-to-Date

Pick trustworthy sources to keep you up-to-date with all the relevant bits of information, especially the information regarding the changes in your local environment. For instance, in some countries, there are curfews while in some countries people over a certain age limit are advised not to leave their homes as older people and those with compromised immune systems are at a higher risk of becoming infected. Also, get informed about the numbers you can reach out to if you suspect you are experiencing the symptom of COVID-19. Staying informed will remind you that there are others like you out there, and we’re all watching this roll out together.

Try Not to Envision Worse-Case-Scenarios

Is the situation hard? Undeniably. But is there a need to come up with the darkest possible scenarios? Unlikely. With the proper precautionary measures and communicating your needs, this too should pass. Although the virus is currently a mystery, it’s not the only one of it’s kind. If you have any type of disability, you’ve already won a lot of battles–that sort of courage and resilience will come in handy in the weeks that follow. You are strong, you are powerful, and you can do this.

We want you to know that you’re not alone. Whenever you even begin to think that you are alone, remember this. We’re all in this together, and you’re with us. 

About Stephen’s Place

Stephen’s Place is an independent apartment community for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities, located in Vancouver, WA (7 minutes from Portland, OR).

If you have a loved one with developmental or intellectual disabilities, who is looking for a community to live in, please contact us for more information. 

Stephen’s Place is a private-pay apartment community due to our state-of-the-art amenities and programs. We are a nonprofit and do not profit from our community. We are private pay because we spend more than some housing communities to ensure that our residents are comfortable and can safely live their lives with independence and dignity.