How to Deal When It Feels Like You’re the Only One Still Wearing a Mask

There are plenty of reasons you might wish to keep masking up when you go out — and even if you’re comfortable without a mask, try to have empathy for the fact that other people’s lives are different from your own. We all live with varying circumstances, health issues and levels of risk tolerance… “You’re entitled to make choices about your own body,” says psychologist Dawn Potter, PsyD. But because it can feel uncomfortable to be the only masked face in the room, she offers tips for easing your anxiety, responding to nosy inquiries and seeking help if you need it.
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-deal-when-it-feels-like-youre-the-only-one-still-wearing-a-mask/

Vaccines: Dealing with needle anxiety

Have you avoided getting the COVID vaccine because you’re afraid of needles? You’re definitely not alone! “About one in four adults and two out of three children have some fear of needles, and adults may find their fears too shameful to share. This is a substantial public health problem, because a body of research shows that around one in 10 adults are so afraid of needles that they will delay or avoid vaccinations…”
Here’s some advice that may help:
==> CARD™ System for Coping with Fears and Anxiety – Adults
==> How to Overcome a Fear of Needles
==> Overcoming a Fear of Needles [NEW!]

DEALING WITH NEEDLE ANXIETY IN KIDS

==> Tips to Support Your Child When Fear of Needles Arises
==> CARD™ System for Coping with Fears and Anxiety – Parents
==> Helping Your Child Through Vaccine Jitters [NEW!]
==> 10 Things to Know About the COVID-19 Vaccine for Children Ages 5 through 11 Years and COVID Vaccine for Children & Teens [NEW!]

Links updated 12/29/21

How to Flourish in Difficult Times

“Recent research suggests that in the first half of 2020, adults in the United States experienced significant declines in life satisfaction, physical health, and financial stability. Over the same period, however, responses to survey items about character remained strong… Now, more than ever, you can appreciate and develop your character to help you flourish—a term researchers use to indicate thriving in the most important aspects of life.”  https://www.edweek.org/leadership/opinion-new-pandemic-research-explains-how-to-flourish-in-difficult-times/2021/03
==> “Flourishing activities” – evidence-based activities that have been shown to promote well-being: https://flourishing.app/
More info at: https://hfh.fas.harvard.edu/how-to-flourish
==> More mental health resources: http://www.southplainfield.lib.nj.us/useful/health.htm#Mental

Health benefits of gardening

“A new study reveals a significant association between gardening more frequently and improvements in wellbeing, perceived stress and physical activity.”
https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/gardening-as-good-as-rigorous-exercise-mental-health-rhs/
==> Adult books on gardening: http://bookdb.nextgoodbook.com/booklist/w/a766f9d4b53cef2071389c94bbbdd56a/l/241250
==> Kids’ books on gardening: http://bookdb.nextgoodbook.com/booklist/w/a766f9d4b53cef2071389c94bbbdd56a/l/243826
==> RU Ready to Garden Webcasts:
http://www.middlesexcountynj.gov/Government/Departments/BDE/Pages/RUReady2Garden.aspx
==> More gardening resources: https://southplainfieldlibrary.wordpress.com/tag/gardening/

Support a Friend or Family Member With Mental Illness

5 Ways to Support a Friend or Family Member With Mental Illness: https://www.mygnp.com/blog/5-ways-to-support-a-friend-or-family-member-with-mental-illness/
==> More mental health resources: http://www.southplainfield.lib.nj.us/useful/health.htm#Mental
https://southplainfieldlibrary.wordpress.com/online-recovery-for-addiction-and-related-issues/

Birds and happiness

“We see them nearly everywhere we go, we hear them every day, they live in every environment, and now, two new studies have shown their mere presence makes us happier.” https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/recent-studies-show-hearing-seeing-birds-better-for-mental-health/

COVID-19 resources for military families

MilitaryOneSource offers info, counseling, and more! See:

• • Military OneSource Coronavirus Updates for the Military Community
  • Non-Medical Counseling for Youth by Video
  • Military Meditation Coach Podcast [NEW!] (Guided meditation exercises, produced by the Defense Health Agency)

==> For additional military & veterans resources related to COVID-19, see

• Tricare COVID Guidance
• VA Coronavirus Interactive Chatbot & FAQ
• NJ Department of Military and Veterans Affairs COVID-19 Information For Veterans
• COVID-19 Information Affecting Education Benefits: NOTE: Special COVID-19 rules expired on June 1, 2022.

==> All our COVID-19 resources: http://www.southplainfield.lib.nj.us/covid.htm

Links updated July 2022

Coronavirus Tips & Resources for Parents, Children, Educators & Others

Prevent Child Abuse America offers a collection of resources to help you deal cope with the pandemic, including Tips for Staying Connected, Tips for Staying Active & Engaged as a Family, Tips to Manage Stress & Anxiety, and more: https://preventchildabuse.org/resources/coronavirus-tips-resources-for-parents-children-educators-others/
==> Additional parenting resources: http://www.southplainfield.lib.nj.us/useful/parent.htm

Train Your Brain to Be Kinder

A short meditation to boost your kindness: Send kind thoughts to someone you love — and to someone you don’t get along with — with a little guidance from these students.
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/video/item/train_your_brain_to_be_kinder

Coping with Bereavement During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Bereavement is a painful, stressful, and difficult journey at the best of times. But grieving the loss of a loved one may be especially challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article offers some useful advice for coping with grief:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/bravery-in-bereavement/202004/how-cope-bereavement-during-the-covid-19-pandemic
==> More grief resources at: https://southplainfieldlibrary.wordpress.com/grief-resources/