An Anxious Return: Heading Back to Work During the COVID-19 Pandemic

on May 29, 2020 at 1:51 PM /

The company I work for reopened last week. I was excited at first to finally get out of the house and earn a paycheck again, but seeing the crowded hallways, closed office doors, and multiple face-to-face meetings are making me very anxious. At home, I was mindful of keeping things especially clean due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When going out to get groceries, I was even more careful. But now at work, with people hovering over me so much and participating in one meeting after the next, my anxiety is getting out of control! People seem to have such different...

A Few Effective Ways to Deal with Someone Else’s Anger

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on May 15, 2020 at 1:51 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. A coworker and I were handling a project for a few weeks. Our big presentation was this morning and it didn’t go the way we wanted. We made a few mistakes, and because of it, our boss came down on us. Afterward, I was ready to discuss and correct our mistakes, however, my coworker lost her temper and said some pretty aggressive things to me. I was really surprised after her rant but was clueless about how to handle it. We all get angry sometimes. Anger is a normal and...

Celebrating Mom at Home: What to do on Her Special Day in the Social Distancing Era

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on May 8, 2020 at 3:46 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. I’m really close with my mom. We live nearly half a country apart but talk every day. Mother’s Day is our favorite holiday, and this year, it’s killing me that I can’t visit her to celebrate. We are both sheltering in place, which means I can’t visit. Even if I could, Mom is so protective of me that she wouldn’t let me make the trip out of fear of me or my family getting sick. I really want to do something special for her this year but have no...

If Your Child is Moody, Then it May be Time for a Break from the Screen

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on May 1, 2020 at 1:35 PM /

When our kids’ school switched to online learning, I thought it’d be for a short time. Now their school has extended it for the rest of the year, and I’m noticing just how much time they spend on their laptops and phones. At first, it was no big deal since they have nothing of great importance to do here at home other than schoolwork. But now my husband and I have noticed that they have even less motivation than usual and are often more bad-tempered. I think it has to do with all the time they spend online, especially playing...

Getting Outside Again: The Benefits of the Outdoors for Your Kids

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on April 24, 2020 at 2:32 PM /

When the stay-at-home order was first put in place, my family and I made the best of it. We were lucky enough to have our jobs switch to work-from-home, and my husband has taken responsibility for helping our kids with their online schoolwork. As the weeks went by, though, we all became incredibly lethargic from being inside all day. One day, we decided to spend an afternoon in the backyard away from our laptops, phones, and tablets. It felt great! I did some gardening, my husband did some yard work, and the kids tossed the ball around and made up...

The Benefits of Keeping a Four-Legged Friend Around During Home Isolation

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on April 17, 2020 at 3:25 PM /

The first couple of weeks of my city’s stay-at-home order were rough. I’m single with no kids, so my apartment was quieter than I could have ever imagined while working from home. It got so bad that I started feeling stressed and anxious from being cooped up all day. During a call with my sister, she suggested adopting a dog. She owns one, or actually tells me that her dog owns her, and says that there’s never a dull moment in her home. I went to my local animal shelter and came home with the cutest dog! Eloise is small,...

Lockdown Blues: COVID-19, Its Effects, And How It’s Being Processed

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on April 3, 2020 at 3:15 PM /

It’s been about six days since my boyfriend and I have been outside. The first couple of days were fine, fun even. We watched a few movies, played some games, and even had a few drinks. But things are definitely changing now. I’ve been on social media almost non-stop, reading about all the new cases, the deaths, the economy, and everything else related to the virus. I’m a puddle of anxiety, convinced I will be the next to get sick. My boyfriend, on the other hand, is on the complete opposite side of the spectrum. At times he’s optimistic or...

Mindfulness

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on March 27, 2020 at 11:40 AM /

If we all weren’t juggling enough between the many hats we wear as parents, spouses, professionals, and friends; now we have the added stress that has come with the challenges associated with COVID-19 and social-distancing. It is entirely reasonable at this time to feel anxiety over the uncertainty and trying to juggle the never-ending list of responsibilities without everything falling apart. While the list of things to do appears never-ending, practicing mindfulness, even if it is for 5 minutes during short breaks throughout the day can help reduce anxiety. First off, what is mindfulness? While it takes practice, it is not...

Stress at Home: Dealing with Emotions and Responsibilities During the COVID-19 Outbreak

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on March 20, 2020 at 3:34 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. With COVID-19 spreading, I have to work from home. In addition to this, I now have my kids at home full time. Since school has been canceled, I’m about to start being their at-home teacher, social director, and all-day companion! As a single mom, you might say that I’m completely overwhelmed. There aren’t enough hours in the day to do all of this! I usually take deep breaths throughout the day to manage my stress, but lately, it’s been impossible. And my work, health, and parenting are suffering because of...

COVID-19: What to Expect During a Period of Uncertainty and Potential Panic

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on March 13, 2020 at 11:26 AM /

As a parent, worrying about the flu or common cold every year is nothing new. My husband and I are always prepared, but this year is different. COVID-19 caught us off guard and we aren’t quite sure what to do. Not only is the possibility of catching the virus scary, but it’s also causing our kids to ask a lot of questions that we don’t know how to answer. Also, my parents are getting older and they seem to be at the highest risk. Between news outlets, social media, and our friends, we hear so much conflicting stuff, and I’m...