Critical Need Amid COVID-19: Self-Care Awareness Month

Waco, TX – September is recognized as Self-Care Awareness Month. The Heart of Texas Region MHMR Center wants to make sure the community stays educated on the importance of self-care for mental, emotional, and physical health—especially in the current COVID-19 pandemic environment.                                                                                                                                                       

“It is critical for those who work in the helping professions to address and hopefully prevent burnout, compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma,” says Molly Howard, Wellness Coordinator at the Heart of Texas Region MHMR Center. “However, it needs to be said that even those with the best self-care plan can suffer from these ailments. Part of a good self-care plan is to have a mechanism for evaluating one’s health and wellbeing in order to intervene early if burnout, compassion fatigue or vicarious trauma are identified.”

Howard stresses self-care is equally important for all people—in more ways that what may come to mind.

“When people think of self-care, they tend to think of taking bubble baths, eating more kale, massages etc.,” Howard says. “However, it also includes figuring out what your stressors are and how to manage them. “Self-care starts with assessment to see where one is doing well and where one can improve.

“Self-care can be hard when we are in the midst of immense stress, such as the current COVID-19 Pandemic,” Howard adds. “A good resource is 7 Self-care tips for Challenging Time by Adam Brady/The Chopra Center (listed below):”

  1. Prioritize: Do what has to be done
  2. Breathe: Be present and aware of what’s happening
  3. Practice meditation: Stillness among activity
  4. Be easy on yourself: Get adequate rest-and-recovery time
  5. Remember the real you who never changes
  6. Detach and embrace uncertainty
  7. Trust that it will pass

Howard recommends that rejuvenation should be at the center of any development of a self-care plan. Strategies that help with self-care typically fall into the three R’s: recreation, relaxation, and routines.

“Self-care can seem easy until you really dive into the details,” Howard says. “The important thing to remember is to just take action. Small steps can make a big impact in the long run. It will pay dividends to take care of yourself up front rather than get to the point where you are completely depleted.”

CONTACT:

Vince Erickson, Director of Public Information and

#TexansRecoveringTogether CCP

Vince.Erickson@hotrmhmr.org

Cell: (254) 265-2030

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