Finding our Way Through the Pandemic-Era Landscape

The recent pandemic and related life-style changes and lock-down orders have generated a wide range of responses. On the plus side, many of us have suddenly had time at home that we’d often dreamed of: Time to spend with family, for outdoors activity like gardening or walking, or to get back to basics like cooking, sewing and building.Unfortunately, there has also been a significant downside for many, even when the illness itself isn’t present: Loss of daily structure, job loss or temporary layoff – how are the bills going to get paid? Can I find another job? Will I lose my home? How will I buy groceries?  What if I get sick? What if my loved ones get sick?  And of course: The kids are driving me crazy! My spouse is driving me crazy!

For people already challenged with trauma, anxiety issues, stress, etc., reactions range from “Well, I never really went out much anyway” to truly unbearable levels of upset and suffering.

The pandemic shut-down itself has created many physical and mental well-being challenges from lower back pain to full fledged panic and anxiety attacks, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. While significant physical and mental health issues may require the help of a professional therapist or practitioner, there are still many simple self-care tools we can use a home.

Tessy Brungardt, a certified Advance Rolfer, has offered Rolfing therapy sessions at Ruscombe Mansion for more than 30 years. In a recent interview with Dr. Zoh Hieronimus, Tessy pointed to two major lock-down related issues: the rise in back pain and repetitive stress issues from too much time at the computer resulting from new work-at-home orders, and the effect of fear and uncertainty on the nervous system.  

A few simple adjustments can help mitigate the aches and pains that come with hours of computer time. Find a comfortable chair that allows you to sit at the proper height, perhaps with your lower back supported by a cushion to maintain the natural arch of the spine. Your computer should be at the proper level so that you can look straight out at the screen with your neck aligned, and your keyboard situated so that your arms can rest. And remember – the human body really isn’t designed to sit for long periods of time. Tessy stresses the importance of changing position or getting up to walk around periodically.

The effect of fear engendered by the Pandemic is often held in the form of muscular tension that can be difficult to release. We tighten muscles and change our posture and breathing patterns. Over time these “habit patterns” can negatively affect our overall well-being. Tessy recommends making conscious efforts to disrupt these patterns. For instance, since every habit pattern of tension involves some level of breathing inhibition, one of the most effective things we can do to ‘unhook’ stress and change the tension in our body is to concentrate on changing our breathing habits. One classic exercise is to stop and just inhale for, say, a count of 5…then exhale counting to 6. This will help engage the parasympathetic nervous system and begin to break up the chronic stress patterns that sap our well-being.

To listen to Dr. Zoh’s interview with Tessy Brungardt, click here.