By SUZANNAH COUCH, Democrat reporter
In February, I interviewed a local family about COVID-19. Miriam “Mira” and Lou Stant lived thousands of miles away from their son, Zack, and his family in China, the epicenter of the soon-to-be worldwide pandemic.
Coronavirus felt so far away at that time.
I had no idea that so much of what I was writing would soon be applicable to my own life, in my own hometown with the people I love at risk of contracting this horrifying virus.
I had asked Zack’s parents how they coped with knowing their oldest son, his wife and infant grandson were living so near where the coronavirus was running rampant.
“I am completely powerless. The anxiety was with me every minute of every day. But I realized that I really had to take care of myself daily to keep the anxiety at bay,” Mira told me.
I feel this sense of anxiety now more than ever, as the coronavirus is now in Brown County. We currently have nine confirmed cases of the virus and one death has been reported.
Anxiety and I have been buds since the beginning.
As a child, I would wash my hands so often out of fear of germs they would crack and peel from being dry. I obsessed over a tornado hitting my home after watching “Twister” at a young age, so I would constantly be monitoring the news for weather updates when a storm was approaching.
More than 20 years later, here I am covering a pandemic in my community. Let me tell you, this is not easy, because this is not just any community to me. This is my hometown, and these are my people.
I reached out to Centerstone’s Child and Family Services Manager, Amanda Kinnaird. I told her that I have anxiety and I am covering the pandemic while working in the newsroom, which means I interact with the public more than others do.
I asked her if Centerstone had tips on how to manage anxiety during such a trying time. She and Director of Marketing Scott Lewellen worked on a list of tips for me.
Centerstone offers help for anyone experiencing stress, anxiety, depression or other mental health conditions. They will continue to offer these services during the pandemic.
“Not everyone reacts to stressful situations in the same way, and some people may need to talk with a professional to help them cope. That is OK and normal,” Kinnaird wrote.
Some things to try:
Exercise regularly. Many gyms and recreational facilities have closed, but there are still ways you can get your heart pumping. There’s now an abundance of free virtual exercise classes made available for everyone through this pandemic. You can also go for a walk or run; ride your bicycle; or play in the yard with your kids or pets. All of these activities can help release endorphins, which can help you feel better and maintain a positive attitude.
Eat healthy. Be more mindful of your eating habits and don’t let your stress win. Keep healthy snacks on hand and be sure to avoid emotional eating.
Take a break from the news. It is important that you have time to disconnect from the stressors of the pandemic, so taking a break from the news and social media can help. Do a puzzle, read a book or connect with loved ones to help take your mind off the virus.
Stay connected. You can still say socially connected while being socially distant. Isolation can lead to anxiety and depression, so FaceTime with friends, Zoom with your supervisor and call your loved ones regularly.
Get enough rest. The effects of stress and anxiety can be amplified without enough rest, so try to get at least eight hours per night. This will help you stay focused and better able to manage any stress or anxiety you may be experiencing.
Contact Centerstone. If you are having a hard time coping with the COVID-19 crisis or anything else, Centerstone can connect you with confidential assistance to address anxiety and stress. For information or appointments, call 1-800-344-8802. The 24-hour crisis line is 1-800-832-5442.
I find myself trying to follow these tips more during my work week. It helps.
But as a journalist, some of them are more difficult to follow than others. It’s not as easy for me to “take a break” from the news when I am living it — and writing about it — almost every day.
Most people have been tasked to shelter in place, work from home and only leave for essential items, like groceries or gas. I wake up every morning and go to work still.
Do I take a couple more deep breaths before I head out the door? You bet. Do I wake up sometimes thinking this is all a dream and that everything is fine? Of course. That is until I check social media and see the latest coronavirus news from overnight.
But I continue to wake up, shower and put on my bravest face as I head out into what is now a scary world.
I am burying myself in covering this pandemic from every angle all while worrying about the people I love who are also working out in the public, and missing those I cannot be around right now.
I am grateful to still have a job that allows me to have a paycheck when many, many Americans are not as lucky. I am here in our small newsroom working Monday through Friday. I, too, struggle with internet connectivity out in the hills where I live, so working from home was never really an option for me.
I join my brilliant co-worker and editor every day to capture the history of this pandemic in our newspaper for people to read about for decades to come. We are capturing history. This is a responsibility we do not take lightly.
A part of me cringes when people jokingly say, “Oh you probably have nothing to write about now.” To the contrary. Even though we are not attending as many meetings or covering as many events, we are still tirelessly monitoring the state of this pandemic and then breaking it down for how it is affecting us here in Brown County.
So what do you do when you cannot disconnect from the news? You find the good news within all the bad.
Some highlights of this pandemic coverage so far are the moments that bring a smile to my face and give me goosebumps from observing the true kindness in our community:
A school principal who stands outside of her school building for hours waiting to serve families meals that will help them get through.
The food truck owners who stay behind after hours to make meals for those in need at no charge.
The volunteer first responders whose response for why they put themselves out on the front line of this pandemic is: If they don’t do it, who else will? They left me in awe of their dedication to their community.
It is also difficult to disconnect from coronavirus coverage when I am not at work because my social media feeds are filled with conspiracy theory posts; COVID-19 memes that are funny, but also kind of scary; and photos or videos showing the stories of those who have overcome the virus or lost their battle.
It is a lot to handle. The week after the first case was confirmed in Indiana on March 6 was a blur. Every press release, executive order, closing and delay had to go up online and on social media. I could not escape the looming doom as positive test results increased alongside the numbers of deaths. It was, at times, hard to breathe.
I anxiously checked the Indiana State Department of Health website and watched as counties surrounding us had case after case confirmed. It was like watching a shark in the water that was far enough away from you that it was not a direct threat, but it was inching closer.
About two weeks ago, “Monday Suzannah” arrived in the newsroom bright-eyed and ready to tackle this week of pandemic coverage. I was going to be healthy this week and really care for me. I even brought a yoga mat and some hand weights, because I was going to stay after work to do some workouts in the newsroom since I knew I would get distracted and lose motivation after getting home from work because, Netflix.
I checked my email, and Amanda had emailed me her tips, including one encouraging daily exercise. It was meant to be!
I stayed after work, even though I didn’t really feel like it once 5:30 p.m. rolled around, and I did a 30-minute workout. I sweated. I felt the burn. I felt a lot better afterward.
Tuesday came, and then life happened. I ended up having to go to the grocery store — or better known now as a mad dash of avoiding people and pushing the cart as fast you can through the aisles — and then I ate Taco Bell for dinner. But I still worked out. I felt accomplished.
Then Wednesday came. I had a large amount of personal stress that day on top of already working on a centerpiece for the following week’s paper. I went straight home, slipped into my favorite pink bathrobe and drank a glass — or three — of wine outside soaking in the natural beauty that surrounds my house. Why? Because I am human.
The rest of my week was busy and I had trouble prioritizing self-care like I should, but that’s OK. I am trying to cut myself some slack, because my job is tough right now as I cover how a pandemic is affecting my hometown.
This place has shaped me in the best ways, so when I talk with restaurant owners who are almost in tears about their business not making it through this pandemic closure, I feel a sense of responsibility to do what I can to help.
Does that mean I order to-go grilled cheese sandwiches when I should be eating some yogurt and a granola bar I brought from home for lunch? You bet. I find comfort in yummy, cheese-filled foods, plus, I am helping people. It’s a win-win.
But then the next day I’ll eat a healthier lunch and a rice cake for a snack. It’s about balance because, again, I am human.
In the end, this is about doing whatever we all need to do to get through this. There are amazing tips out there to help us all navigate this unprecedented time that I know I will keep in my mind.
But sometimes self-care is drinking a glass of wine while you laugh with your boyfriend about something “Tiger King”-related on Facebook. Or it’s deciding to order a grilled cheese to go about an hour before lunchtime because you’re just feeling stressed and need to eat some cheese about it.
Maybe it’s jamming out to your favorite indie music from your youth to remind you of a time when life was so much simpler. Thank you, Ben Gibbard, for those Facebook livestreams.
Other times, though, it can be cranking out a workout in your newsroom after hours or taking a walk in nature, listening to your favorite true crime comedy podcast, and laughing as you forget, for just a moment, we’re in one of our biggest battles yet.
As Brown County Schools Superintendent Laura Hammack says: We ARE Brown County.
We will get through this, but we may just need some more evenings of wine drinking and grilled cheese lunches until we do.
Suzannah Couch grew up in Brown County, reading the Brown County Democrat. A 2013 Franklin College graduate, she covers breaking news, county government, cops/courts, education and arts/entertainment. She can be reached at 812-988-2221 or [email protected].
