Ventura County Behavioral Health Department cautious of unhealthy coping mechanisms during stay at home order
VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. - Everyone is reacting to the statewide Stay at Home order differently.
In Ventura County, beaches and parks may have been open for people to enjoy, but other outlets that people used to use, like hanging out with friends or going to the gym, were not options during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
That can really take a toll on a person's mental health.
Ventura County Behavioral Health (VCBH) offered some advice for people who might have been struggling to cope with the changes brought on by the order.
The director of VCBH, Dr. Sevet Johnson said none of this is normal, "Our lives have come to a screeching halt."
"What was once normal for all of our lives, is now something that we don't know if we’ll ever return to," said Dr. Johnson.
VCBH officials warned that some coping mechanisms developed are not healthy for people or their loved ones around them.
Dr. Johnson offered this advice, "If you find yourself screaming or lashing out at your loved ones -- if you're finding yourself crying yourself to sleep every night, or if you're finding yourself unable to focus on anything... It might be a sign that something's not right."
"If you’re finding yourself with coping skills that are not beneficial that are not healthy, you should call us. That’s the reality right now." said Dr. Johnson.
Dr. Loretta Denering with VCBH said not to take alcohol consumption too lightly, "A lot of the things that people are doing right now, and making light of, 'quarantinis' and drinking a lot, or using substances like cannabis.... We have a lot of information about how you can check yourself, in a non judgmental way, how you could say, 'Hey! I feel like i'm doing too much of x, y, z.'"
Dr. Denering also said there's no shame in reaching out for help even if you don't think you need it, "Even the most strongest, mentally fit, emotionally in tune people are going to be feeling something right now... and that's okay its absolutely okay."
“We’re here to help you navigate through that and get through this we are in this together!” said Dr. Denering.
To find out more about Ventura County Behavioral Health's programs , click here, and to find a list of their available hotlines, click here.
