NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Maintaining your mental health can be difficult during a stay-at-home order. Doctors reported that people with eating disorders are being especially triggered for relapse while at home.
The National Eating Disorders Association says addiction thrives in isolation.
That’s why it’s so important to check on those you love. Irregular eating can be a coping mechanism for other mental health issues.
"You add to that the stress, anxiety, the collective trauma we're all going through right now, and that's really a recipe for disordered eating behaviors,” Claire Mysko, CEO of the National Eating Disorders Association said.
While spending time on social media can be a way for some people to feel connected to others, it could be a trigger for those with eating disorders. Examples of that include people posting jokes about gaining too much weight during quarantine and others are pushing exercise.
"I think people are so used to that default of commiserating over fear of weight gain that we don't think about how harmful that can be," Mysko added.
NEDA is launching more virtual resources, like daily videos.
If you or someone you know needs to speak to a counselor, call the Metro Crisis Center at 615-244-7444.
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What is COVID-19 (a.k.a. the new coronavirus?)
According to the World Health Organization, coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases. Examples include the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV)and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans. COVID-19 stands for "Coronavirus disease 2019," which is when this strain of the coronavirus was discovered.
What are the symptoms?
The CDC says patients confirmed to have the 2019-nCoV reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness with:
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Or at least two of the following symptoms:
- Fever
- Chills
- Repeated shaking with chills
- Muscle pain
- Headache
- Sore throat
- New loss of taste or smell
At this time, the CDC believes symptoms could appear as soon as two days after exposure, or as long as 14 days.
Prevention
The CDC is recommending "common sense" measures such as:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
