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COVID-19
PANDEMIC

media exposure with news about the disaster are helpful. is certainly a calming activity for both the receiver and the giver and
Children 6-12 years of age may be irritable, withdrawn, aggres- applies to all ages.
sive, or clinging. They may have physical symptoms like stom- At the other end of the spectrum are the elderly. Recognize that
achaches. Children may forget the information learned in school. feelings such as loneliness, boredom, fear of contracting disease, anx-
Parents must follow a routine; make the child participate in setting iety, stress and panic are normal reactions to stressful situations such
up rules about hygiene, encourage expression through play and con- as a disease outbreak. Between March and April, five people we have
versation. Keep up the habit of school time by ensuring school known since we moved to San Antonio, all well past seventy years,
work is done during those hours, be firm and gentle. Play session most with chronic illness, passed. None due to COVID-19; but none
online and telephone time with friends is helpful. could have traditional last rites. The isolation of the surviving family
For children aged 13-18, it is even more important to follow a members is heart-wrenching. Communication through email, tele-
routine, particularly keeping up with school work. While encourag- phone or just, a card is all helpful. Social connection is critical.
ing awareness of what is happening is good, don't force it. A Are we all in this together? The 'Vedas', the oldest known trove
teenager may understand numbers and statistics, so take advantage of knowledge, speaks about the connectedness of all humanity to
of this and encourage creative thinking. The dance school I am in- higher consciousness. The great seers of yonder times meditated
volved in has continued all classes online. We challenged the senior for all humanity because we are all interconnected. It is a practice I
students to choreograph a dance to music that we provided, and find useful. Twelve to fifteen minutes of meditation at any time of
the result was a beautiful dance fit for a large audience. Addressing the day and anywhere you are could be a source of energy and re-
stigma and discrimination and potential injustices in a healthy dis- plenishment.
cussion are also important. Please be with me while I meditate seated comfortably on a chair,
One thing we have to be grateful for is the social media that has feet planted firmly on the floor, spine erect, face slightly turned up,
kept us connected. Social connectedness is so critical for psycho- shoulders and arms relaxed, palm turned upwards resting on thighs.
logical wellbeing, which is difficult while distancing six feet apart. Inhale deeply as your abdomen protrudes; exhale, so it becomes
Connecting via social media is one thing I would recommend car- flat. Do this 2-3 times and then begin to breathe easily. As you in-
rying forward as we transition. I am connected with ‘Care for the hale, think I am not just a body. As you exhale, think I am not even
Caregiver’ program at UTH that was in place before COVID-19. just the mind. Focus on a point between your eyebrows. Do this for
The uniqueness of this program is that it sends a personal message 4-5 minutes. Let your thoughts wander; don't fight them, gently
to me in the place of a generic newsletter that many heads of or- come back to the focal point. Follow this with exhaling with the
ganizations send. The American Psychological Association recom- sound 'Aaah' coming from a point below your naval and 'Oooo'
mends that therapists and psychologists connect with patients in coming from the xiphoid and ending with 'Mmmm" at the throat,
the aftermath of the pandemic, which appears to be a vulnerable which should send vibrations throughout your body. It takes prac-
period. The epidemic also has broadened these connections. Many tice to do this. Do this seven times. Follow this with easy breathing,
people have also received and made connections with friends and mindful of just the breaths going in and out. Now gently open your
relatives that they had lost touch with. eyes. You may have briefly connected with universal consciousness.
While many people will be resilient to the changes wrought by With practice, you will be able to get into the phase faster. It has
COVID-19, this global crisis will test others in significant ways. taken me four years to get a glimpse of it.
Erika Felix, a psychologist at U.C. Santa Barbara, says, "As things When life gives you a handful of lemons, always remember that
return to normal, most of us will also return to a kind of normal, what you do with them is up to you — and your choice might not
albeit changed by going through this experience. But there is a sub- be to make lemonade.
set of people who will be chronically disrupted and will need sup- You could grumpily sit by and watch them rot, or even lash out
port in recovery". at others by throwing lemons at them. Or you could make the best
Physicians, health care professionals, administrators, parents, and of the sour fruit and whip up some delicious lemony treats or
caregivers must take care of themselves. There is a saying in Tamil squeeze a little in your tea. Remember that with the right mindset,
(Language spoken in south India) 'Sevir irundhalthan Chithiram' you can make the best out of the sourest situations. (Source un-
meaning without the canvas you cannot paint a picture. You are the known)
canvas, and you are the artist as well. Additional resources can be accessed at: www.NCTSN.org
Make time to do things at home that have made you and your www.healthychildren.org www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-
family feel better in other stressful situations. These could be read- ncov/specific-groups/children-faq.html
ing, watching movies, listening to music, playing games, exercising, https://www.mphonline.org/worst-pandemics-in-history/
or engaging in religious activities (prayer, participating in services
on the Internet). The other day I did something spontaneously; I Rajam Ramamurthy, MD is Professor Emeritus, UTHSA De-
read to my husband the 'Upanishad', a very complex Vedic literature. partment of Pediatrics/ Neonatology, Peace Laureate S.A. 2017,
He listened to it as a child would to a storybook. Reading to others and is the 2005 President of the Bexar County Medical Society.

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