As the coronavirus pandemic rapidly sweeps across the world, it is inducing a considerable degree of fear, worry and concern in the population at large and among certain groups in particular, such as older adults, care providers and people with underlying health conditions.
Then why is it that many of us fail to implement the World Health Organisation advices?
The short answer: Because we are programmed to resist change.
Meaning the most important question is besides how to stay safe is how to stay sane and change?
In public mental health terms, the main psychological impact to date is elevated rates of stress or anxiety. But as new measures and impacts are introduced – especially quarantine and its effects on many people’s usual activities, routines or livelihoods – levels of loneliness, depression, harmful alcohol and drug use, and self-harm or suicidal behaviour are also expected to rise (source WHO).
When I read the advices of the WHO, Unicef, Mental health UK I think they all makes sense, but for most people they will be almost impossible as it means a behavioural and belief change.
The 3 main advices struck me as almost undoable for a person unless they are already daily routines.
Be active
Eat a balanced diet
Try to anticipate distress
Everyone who has done his/her best to change a behaviour knows how hard that is just by understanding the need of it.
Everyone who ever wanted to stop an addiction knows it is not easy to do even though it makes totally sense and you know why you should do it it. Just like very person who has a weight issue knows that they should eat healthier or less and that does not means it happens.
Knowing why we should do something does not change us, if that was enough unhealthy habits would not exist.
When I was reading this it made me even worry even more, how can someone implement this without professional assistance?
"It is OK to feel vulnerable and overwhelmed as we read news about the outbreak, especially if you have experienced trauma or a mental health problem in the past, or if you have a long-term physical health condition that makes you more vulnerable to the effects of the coronavirus.
It’s important to acknowledge these feelings and remind each other to look after our physical and mental health. We should also be aware of and avoid increasing habits that may not be helpful in the long term, like smoking and drinking?
When we read about what sales is going up, it is the sales of alcohol, cigarettes and food as this makes totally sense as we like to comfort ourselves in these times of stress. This is a deep ingrained habit that is not so easily changed.
Just imagine we learn to talk when we are 3 and really grasp the concept of language from age 7 onwards, and all the things we learn before and during that period of time is installing as beliefs and habits in our mind and body as somatic experiences.
So advices made in words do not work as they do not speak the language of how they are stored in our mind/body. It is like talking chinese to a Englishman and assume they understand you.
So what can we do to implement these advices?
We have to learn the language of the mind and body that are in control of our beliefs and memories.
So that we can learn how to change behaviour and deep ingrained beliefs in a professional way; how to do that for yourself, your beloved ones and others.
BTW these memories and beliefs are stored in what they call our subconscious and in my words our Heart and Gut Brain.
Your Heart and Gut brain are in control of almost all of your instinctive decisions.
When they are not aligned with each other and consult you logical head meaning not addressed correctly, these can result in procrastination, being stuck, ego/trust issues, demotivation/depression, stress/anxiety,, ineffective decision-making and poor teamwork.
Just to be clear yes, there are three brains controlling us and your beloved ones, colleagues and clients.
We have our ‘Gut brain’ which controls our survival needs and acts in fear or anger hence: fight or flight responses and feeds our EGO. In these period of times this brain in in action as it is fearing it survival making us feel anxious, stressed anger etc..
Then there’s the our ‘Heart Brain’ and it controls our bonding with other people and that is where we feel love, compassion but also hate. This one feels the disconnection we now have in the COVID-19 times and is looking for compensation of the loneliness meaning it could go to addictions.
Finally, there’s the ‘Head Brain’ with three brains inside it: the rational human brain or prefrontal cortex; the emotional middle brain; and the instinctual reptilian brain.
If you are not aware of all our brains and know how to work with them, then how are you going to truly help your yourself or your beloved ones to make lasting change?
And that is where we step in, at PEAL Academy we are the expert in change.
We have seen more than 10.000 people/companies and successfully assisted them in change.
We are experts in the language of your Heart and Gut brain.
There is no better time to learn these skills than now, as you, your beloved ones and others need these skills as more than ever.
I released a free webinar on how to deal with stress and depression based on this concept
Just have a look at it.
Furthermore in October our new Clinical hypnotherapy course starts to teach you all the skills to do this successfully and as we know that is still some months to go we are offering virtual classes from May onwards.
A couple of hours every fortnight to get started for only $90 Dollars if you are fast otherwise it becomes the normal fee of $395
The first possibility
16th and 17th of May 3.30 PM - 6.30 PM
This is the discount code!
Second possibility
30th and 31th of May 3.30 PM - 6.30 PM
This is the discount code!
In this workshop we will focus on: How to keep the personal or business relationship healthy
It is all about assisting you in awareness and managing your internal stress and communication with others.
In these 6 hours intensive workshop you will learn:
Assisting you in awareness and managing your internal stress and communication with others.
The language and needs of your three Brains — your Head, Heart and Gut Brain—and how that effects every personal or business relationship you have.
Understand how your 3 Brains are hierarchical connected for powerful decision-making and how those decisions can make us flourish or suffer based on how they have stored our memories and emotions.
Understand better yourself and the people around you, what are your own preferences and relationships’ tensions and what are theirs?
Create awareness an create a path to overcome the 2 main misalignments (dominance of one Brain and a conflict between the Brains) that prevent us for having true relationships and create unsatisfying relationships, demotivation, procrastination, anxiety/stress, (work-)addiction, ineffective decision-making and poor overall performance.
*based on the book "How men and women fit, finally understand your partner with the 3 brains theory" by Christoffel Sneijders and the ICF accredited 3 Brains coach Certification Training
The objective is that you will be able to instantly apply these to your daily life on the personal and business context, whatever it is: coaching, leadership, managerial or personal situations that are relevant to you or your clients!
In short, we aim to make you a happier person and help you create more stable and satisfying emotional relationships.
Don't miss it!
Love to see you
Christoffel
PS this training is in the process of ICF CCEU Accreditation!
BTW these are the advices that you can find at the WHO and Mental Health Uk
Try to stay connected
At times of stress, we work better in company and with support. Try and keep in touch with your friends and family, by telephone, email or social media
You may like to focus on the things you can do if you feel able to:
Stay in touch with friends on social media but try not to sensationalise things. If you are sharing content, use this from trusted sources, and remember that your friends might be worried too.
Also remember to regularly assess your social media activity. Tune in with yourself and ask if they need to be adjusted. Are there particular accounts or people that are increasing your worry or anxiety? Consider muting or unfollowing accounts or hashtags that cause you to feel anxious.
Talk to your children
Involving our family and children in our plans for good health is essential. We need be alert to and ask children what they have heard about the outbreak and support them, without causing them alarm.
We need to minimise the negative impact it has on our children and explain the facts to them. Discuss the news with them but try and avoid over-exposure to coverage of the virus. Be as truthful as possible.
Let’s not avoid the ‘scary topic’ but engage in a way that is appropriate for them.
Try to anticipate distress
It is OK to feel vulnerable and overwhelmed as we read news about the outbreak, especially if you have experienced trauma or a mental health problem in the past, or if you have a long-term physical health condition that makes you more vulnerable to the effects of the coronavirus.
It’s important to acknowledge these feelings and remind each other to look after our physical and mental health. We should also be aware of and avoid increasing habits that may not be helpful in the long term, like smoking and drinking.
Try and reassure people you know who may be worried and check in with people who you know are living alone.
Try not to make assumptions
Don’t judge people and avoid jumping to conclusions about who is responsible for the spread of the disease. The coronavirus can affect anyone, regardless of gender, ethnicity or sex.
Try to manage how you follow the outbreak in the media
There is extensive news coverage about the outbreak. If you find that the news is causing you huge stress, it’s important to find a balance.
It’s best that you don’t avoid all news and that you keep informing and educating yourself, but limit your news intake if it is bothering you.