COVID-19 is the new 9/11.

This invisible virus has impacted our global life from medical to economic, spiritual to education to social. Every aspect of the human spirit has been invaded.

Efforts are underway to “level off and decrease” the spread. Measures are being put into place to be proactive. In the midst of this public health emergency, there is another pandemic that has, is and will be lurking around — mental illness. COVID-19 has exacerbated mental and emotional health concerns. The way we think plus the way we feel triggers our actions and behaviors.

For all of us, we are not controlled by events or people, but rather by the perceptions that we hold to be true. Perception is the way we — as individuals — interpret ourselves and the world around us. What is real to you is real to you. There is no one that can change that mindset/perception other than you. The view that you take of a situation has more reality than the actual situation itself.

So, instead of trying to change the outside world, change your inside world first. World events, crisis, or people cannot make us do anything. It is our interpretation or perception that causes our behavior. Being willing to introspect and question our perception is vital and it can make the difference between feeling secure, sheltered, protected versus fearing that our life is untangling.

Here are some quick “tidbits” to help you manage through the mental health crisis you might be experiencing during COVID-19 and beyond:

• Many external events are out of our control. Don’t put your feelings in charge of your circumstances. Your feelings will detour you from the main road of life impacting your thoughts which then spin out of control. Dig in and pay careful attention to things that you can do to prevent a problem or react to it if it affects you. Put proactive measures into play; affirm yourself; stay emotionally and mentally safe; don’t repress, express; disinfect your mind with physical activity to keep your focus in tune.

• Find ways to create a rational environment. Create a habit of honest and disciplined thinking that is an ongoing safety net during turbulent times. Negative beliefs is a slow moving poison that hijacks our thoughts creating overwhelming fear, obsessive worries, depression, domestic disputes and anxiety. This leads us to look for things to “calm” us down usually in the form of substance abuse. Identify the negativity, write it down and talk through it. By doing this, we are transformed from within giving us more hope and joy that lets us embrace life.

• Start and end the day with positivity. Discipline your mind to avoid “stress traps” during the day and direct your attention on that which is good even in times of uncertainty. At the end of the day, recollect the good in the day; see the positives in yourself and others; spend time cherishing the people around you; text message, snap, send a 160-character tweet sharing the positives.

• Negativity is around us. Turn off the news or at least limit it. Minimize your exposure by setting time limits for viewing and internet browsing. Stick with about five minutes during the day, and skip it at night completely when it is more likely to interfere with your sleep. Lack of sleep or insomnia can wreak havoc with the mental and emotional health of an individual. Limit external stimulation, especially negative ones. “Mind sanitize.”

Center Associates continues to meet the mental and emotional needs of all those individuals seeking services at this time. Do not let COVID-19 paralyze you; do not let your feelings control you; beware of the negative thoughts lurking to derail you. Center Associates is here for you. We are fully TELEHEALTH with all of our services. Call 641-752-1585 or visit us on our website www.centerassoc.com for an appointment. We will overcome. We are resilient. We will rise again.