The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON—The staff at Blue Mountain Counseling of Columbia County have been discussing ways to maintain good emotional health during this time of required social distancing, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Clinic Director Chrisann Christensen said she has some ideas to share.

First of all, check in with friends and family routinely through phone calls, FaceTime, through text messages or by snail mail.

Limit media coverage.

“Information can be good, but there is so much information being pushed out, right now,” she said.

“If you need information, look to reputable sources to get it,” she said. “Also be very cognizant of how much time your children are on social media. Check in with them. Look at their devices to see where they have been online.”

Social media does have some great sites for self-care.

Christensen said she has the smartphone app Virtual Hope Box (VHP) with tools in four different areas; distract, inspire, relax and coping.”

There are also sites with coloring apps, word searches, and Pinterest for ideas and inspiration, she said.

Be mindful of your health.

“Make sure to stay hydrated,” she said. “Eat as healthy as you can. With Dayton Mercantile offering to bag your groceries, and Columbia County Transportation offering to drop them off, access to food should be somewhat easier, if you are worried about shopping in person.”

Try to keep to some type of routine.

“It can be easy to lose hours and days right now,” Christensen said. “Make sure your sleep-wake schedule is at, or near, your baseline.”

Physical activity is important.

“Stretching, walking, yoga – whatever you have access to, do it,” she said. “Fresh air is amazing, and we are blessed to live in a community where maintaining social distance from others, while outside, is relatively easy.”

Relax by revisiting or creating new hobbies.

“Dig out playing cards, puzzles, and board games. If you have children in the home, this is a wonderful time to interact with them while doing something fun together,” she said.

Smells and sounds are beneficial.

“Music can transport the mind to places that are beautiful,” Christensen said.

Candles, essential oils, and baking are just some of the smells that can help soothe the mind and body.

“While something like this is new to us, it will end,” Christensen said. “Remember to set short and long-term goals. Map out the garden you may want to plant. Think of the vacation you will take in the future. Continue to set goals and dreams.”

Even though the lobby at Blue Mountain Counseling is currently closed, staff can still be reached by phone, and they continue to reach out to their clients with packets of information, coping tools, and other ideas.

Information and positive thoughts are also being posted on the Blue Mountain Counseling Facebook page, Christensen said.

For more information call Blue Mountain Counseling of Columbia County by phone at: (509) 382-1164.