Specialist advice on maintaining wellness during the stress of COVID-19
We asked our members to share how they’re maintaining wellness during the COVID-19 crisis. Here are some of their best tips.
Have your own? Add them in the comments. Also, be sure to check out the Royal College’s online list of wellness resources.
Allan Abbass, MD, FRCPC
Professor and director of Centre for Emotions & Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University
- “Any form of exercise.”
Joy Dobson, MD, FRCPC
Senior physician consultant with 3sHealth in Regina, Sask.
- “A tip from a New York Psychologist: practice radical self-acceptance.”
Arun Garg, MD, FRCPC
Program medical director of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology and medical director of the South Asian Health Institute, Fraser Health
- “I have coined ‘Ps’ for seeing the end of an invisible enemy like this virus: Do not panic; be prepared; follow protective measures; keep patience; follow policy, protocols and procedures from recognized health providers; say your prayers to the divinity of your choice; and remember that it will pass.”
Senator Stanley Kutcher, MD, FRCPC
Professor Emeritus, Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University
- “Remember that negative emotions in this crisis are normal. Their primary purpose is to focus your attention on vanquishing the threat. Scan your environment for threats to safety for yourself and others. Then mitigate. Work in teams. Support each other. Pre-shift and post-shift touch base times are very helpful. Get a buddy. Look out for their welfare and ask that they look out for yours.”
Kurban Madhani, MD, FRCPC
Retired psychiatrist
- “I believe one thing that we physicians do not seem to stress enough is the benefit of meditation for the well-being of ourselves and our patients, and of course our families. A lot of research from Harvard seems to indicate its helpfulness for depression, anxiety and dementia!”
Derryck Smith, MD, FRCPC
Clinical Professor Emeritus, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia
- “I find that information is fuelling anxiety. I am limiting myself to 30 minutes of COVID news a day, otherwise you could be plugged into social media 24/7.”
Ken Woolfson, MD, FRCSC
General surgeon, Oshawa, Ont.
- “My advice: Exercise, read some books about great inspiring individuals and watch some incredibly silly/dumb movies (so you forget about the world for a few hours).”
