• 24 May 2020

Against loneliness and fear during "Social Distancing"

Against loneliness and fear during

The German government has issued a ban on contact in order to contain the Corona pandemic. Especially single people suffer a lot from isolation and sometimes react with fear. 

People who live alone and have no partner or children know the situation of sometimes simply being at home and not seeing a soul. However, this situation is then voluntary - unlike the current situation, in which the federal government has imposed a contact ban in order to contain the corona pandemic.

Contact ban, quarantine, home office - at present we find ourselves in a completely new situation. Most people do not know how to be alone from one day to the next and feel the loneliness. Many are even afraid of isolation. In this situation, according to experts, it is important to be aware of the difference between being alone and loneliness. Loneliness is not a state, but a feeling. So you are alone and feel lonely. Whoever else is alone, especially now, feels easier. People who are stressed out by deadlines do so more easily at the beginning of their isolation, sometimes they are even happy to take a break - but then they fall into a hole.

Relieving this situation is purely a matter of the mind. Positive thoughts alone can be a small help against the imminent cabin fever. It's a matter of changing the mindset and changing terms such as "no contact" or "I must stay at home" into "protective order" or "restrictions for precaution".

It is also important to structure the day anyway, to get used to a new routine. This includes, for example, banal things like getting up at fixed times, getting dressed as well. Clothes make the man, and it feels good to be "dressed up". Anyone who spends the whole day on the couch in a jogging suit quickly feels ragged. It's a good idea to think about what else there is to do in the household that you haven't got around to yet: cleaning out the cupboard, reading a book, starting a new sport with a DVD or learning a language are just a few examples.

If fears arise nevertheless, nobody should be left alone. It is good to put these fears down on paper without censorship, but it is also good to ask yourself whether you are scaring yourself or whether the situation is scary. These fears should also be communicated - whether they are discussed with the partner, the family or with a professional advisor. In times of Corona the telephone counselling service is also suitable for this.

Nature also offers help against fear and anxiety. Especially when they restrict the affected persons in their everyday life. Valerian can help against sleep disorders, anxiety or nervousness and is available in various forms: as tablets, tincture or tea. Lemon balm also calms nervous insomnia and stimulates the appetite. Hops are used to calm restlessness, anxiety and tension as well as sleep disorders. The natural remedy contains bitter substances which have a calming effect and kill bacteria.

Against the corona blues, however, it is also advisable to take regular exercise in the fresh air - even alone - to clear your head and recharge your batteries. The spring sun also contributes to this.