The implementation of social distancing to combat the global Covid-19 pandemic can subject people to significant and often immobilizing emotional distress, particularly people who are dealing with mental conditions such as depression or anxiety.
In cases of the multi-symptom borderline personality disorder, which includes fear of abandonment as a primary symptom, the notion of an extended period of aloneness can be particularly troubling.
There are a number of technologies that permit people to stay in touch with others, including Facebook, Google Hangouts, Twitter, etc. There are also social platforms such as Skype, FaceTime and WhatsApp, among other newer and more robust ones such as Marco Polo and Zoom.com that are all quite valuable for their ability to reach out and connect to others. In addition there are apps designed to assist people reach inward and connect with their own emotional states.
I found one of these to be particularly useful, especially for people diagnosed with BPD because the app and its resources are principally oriented to mindfulness, a key component in Marsha Linehan’s Dialectical Behavior Therapy which she designed for the treatment of BPD.
The site is called Calm.com and it offers a number of auditory videos to help you connect with your inner self, something particularly helpful in finding calm in the storm that is this global crisis.
In the interest of transparency, I have to share that I have been practicing meditation on and off for most of my adult life in one form or another. So while this post is not an endorsement of a specific approach or product, it is a recommendation of the practice in general, particularly when it is easily available, simple to use and, importantly, free of cost. You can also share these resources with other people.
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