Surviving isolation

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Surviving isolation

Fri, 04/24/2020 - 15:52
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Mental health professionals say kids need COVID-19 understanding, structure

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While they have different personalities, brothers Brayden and Mason Fulton share similar passions like hunting, fishing and riding motorcycles.

While the siblings have been able to take part in some of these passions during the COVID-19 pandemic, the state’s shelter in place order has taken away one of their favorite pastimes – playing baseball.

“Not playing baseball and that stuff is hard. I talk with my friends on the phone but not getting to see them is something I kind of miss,” said Mason, a sixth-grader at Roblyer Learning Center and a year-round baseball player.

His older brother, a sophomore starter on El Reno High School’s baseball team, had his season yanked out from underneath him after five games when the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association halted all spring sports due to the virus.

“When the season gets started, you get used to rolling and going with practice and games. Without that it gets boring so I’m trying to find stuff to stay busy and not sitting around the house all day,” said Brayden.

The brothers say they understand COVID-19, but they don’t feel threatened by the invisible virus which has killed more than 45,000 Americans.

“I feel like I know a good amount about the virus, but I don’t feel threatened. I’m not worried about getting sick,” said Brayden.

The lack of concern by those ages 17 and under is common, said local mental health professionals.

“They just feel grounded. That’s why we are trying to explain to kids about the COVID-19 virus, but some of the younger kids just don’t understand.

“They know that school is out and boredom sets in. They don’t know why they can’t go out and ride their bikes with friends or go swimming with them. Kids do understand germs so we have got to take a different approach to teaching them,” said Vicky Blazevich, a licensed professional counselor with Red Rock Behavioral Health Services.

As of April 22, Oklahomans ages 17 and under made up only 91 of the 2,894 positive cases of COVID-19. While that is 3 percent of the total cases statewide, professionals warn teenagers need to continue following federally-mandated social distancing guidelines.

“Teenagers don’t understand that they may not get sick but they can become carriers. They might go out in public and get the virus and don’t show any symptoms. Then they go home and can expose those who might be at higher risk,” said Archie Randall, Project Director for Pathways Professional Counseling.

Randall oversees cases in Canadian and Oklahoma counties and says he understands teenagers not understanding how serious the virus is on the local, state and national level.

“It’s called the Superman Syndrome and even though the chances of them getting sick may be lower, they can still be a carrier. Until they get the sickness under control and come up with a vaccine, we need to still practice social distancing. Parents need to get involved and keep kids in line and focused,” said Randall.

The state’s shelter in place order is set to expire at the end of April, but Gov. Kevin Stitt said last week that some businesses can begin reopening before May 1, but under strict guidelines.

Isolation will continue even after May 1, and both professionals said parents and guardians need to understand what youth are going through.

Because of spring break and the closing of school sites statewide on March 23 for the remainder of the term, young people will have been away from their normal routines and social circles for 48 days by the end of April.

“It’s been rough and there has been a multitude of things going on with kids. It’s unbelievable and we have been admitting new clients at five to six per week,” said Randall.

Pathways sees 45 youth from ages 6 to 17 years old in El Reno and 80 to 85 countywide. Randall said it's key that everyone inside each family bubble adapts positively to life under current isolation rules and after the state begins to reopen.

“Everyone has to adjust to the situation and practice social distancing. Kids can’t always do that and they want to go and can’t sit around and wait, so they need to stay within the family unit,” said Randall.

Blazevich agrees.

“Parents need to be mindful of what they say around children. They need to keep all conversations around kids positive,” said the mother of two girls ages 8 and 14.

Battling the negatives of isolation among youth is all about structure, said both Randall and Blazevich.

“They need structure to their day to keep their sanity, so scheduling is important and it needs to be creative. Families need to plan time to eat, do schoolwork, computer time and get outside in their own backyards.

“If families structure out their days, they will be fine,” said Randall.

The structure, said Blazevich, does not have to be strict, but needs to be followed every day.

“Kids are getting tired and bored with isolation. They are trying to do homework but I know my own children are tired of each other. Families need to try and keep their schedules semi-structured but they don’t have to be planned out minute by minute.

“They (parents) just need to make sure kids know what is going on. Also, they need to make sure kids stay physically active and find creative ways to do so with what you have available,” said Blazevich.

Blazevich said distance learning through computers and programs like Zoom has allowed students to stay in touch with teachers, friends and families. However, parents and youth alike need to know it’s not the same as physical contact when dealing with mental health.

“Peer support is huge. There is technology like computers which has been helpful but it’s not the same as human contact. Your mind tricks you into thinking it is, but your body feels it’s not there,” said Blazevich, who has been seeing her patients through video meetings on Doxy.me.

Randall said his company has been using Zoom as well as other means of technology to see patients. However, it’s not the same as face-to-face meetings for both professionals and patients.

“In-person, you can recognize triggers and change things up to keep someone engaged. On a computer you cannot always pick up on those triggers. This (using technology) is something new for everyone,” said Randall.

Cities across the county, like El Reno, have closed playgrounds but have kept parks and golf courses open but under use of social distancing guidelines.

“I know everyone wants to get back to work and normal, but unless we use precautionary measures, this thing will not go away,” said Randall.

Both professionals also suggest families engage in yard work, gardening, physical activities, car rides, arts and crafts or other ways to stay active in isolation but safe.