Staying Sane and “Relatively Happy” during Lockdown
How to avoid Feeling Isolated and Depressed
Interview with Linda Bellinson, Licensed Clinical Social Worker at RVM
by Joni Johnson
Linda Bellinson
Linda Bellinson, our RVM Licensed Clinical Social Worker, has been working with various groups on campus to alleviate the feelings of isolation and depression that can often affect residents at the Manor because of aging and loss of a loved one. However, these feelings have intensified and affected even more residents since the beginning of the Covid-19 series of lock-downs and protection measures. By the time this article is available for publication, it will be almost 10 months of serious isolation for many of our RVM residents.
While hope is on the horizon with vaccination shots and eventual freedom from all of these restrictions, we really don’t know how it will be implemented. So increasing our strategies for overcoming the loneliness brought on by the pandemic is still of great importance.
I asked Linda about her experience and suggestions in working with clients who have been feeling the pains of isolation. She cites the plethora of articles that form a real scientific basis for the efficacy of caring for animals and plants and how they help lower heart rates, improve cognitive function and the ability to sleep. 
Caring for others lowers the rates of anxiety and depression and provide an improved outlook on life because it helps us focus on something other than ourselves. Just the act of stroking a pet has benefits. And, oddly and luckily enough, there is also quite an amazing benefit to having a plant to care for. While not everyone has, wants or can keep an animal, almost everyone can care for plants. And there is evidence that plants not only improve the environment in a room by increasing the quality of air in a room over a twenty-four hour period, but that caring for plants also increases mood levels and lowers rates of anxiety and depression. The key is caring for someone or something else.
From anonymous: Give a smallish, very hardy, potted plant, with very easy-to-follow care instructions [“put me near a sunny window and give me 1.5 oz of water every Sunday” – that way you could include a fancy shot glass as a gift reminder. Or some other volume. Or a marked very small calendar.] You could explain that you love the little green fellow but you’re running out of window sills and then you have an excuse to call up to check on it and talk about your photosynthetic babies.
Linda cites computers and smart phones as having the potential to improve our connection with others through Zoom, Face-time, Skype and just the sheer act of telephoning others. People who have scheduled regular family conversations, grandparents calling children and grandchildren pay an enormous dividend in feeling connected to the outer world. We so often wait for people to call us and if they don’t, we feel ignored or forgotten. But why should we wait for others to call us. Why not be proactive and call others. If you have been part of a group that met before Covid but then stopped meeting even on Zoom, it gives you a wonderful source of people to call. It makes you an active participant and makes the receiver feel valued and considered.
The Wellness committee has a group that is sending cards to residents here at the Manor. But why not do the same with your friends and neighbors. There is evidence that shows that getting cards from others, even complete strangers, helps people feel connected. And those who write the cards feel good by doing something for others. It isn’t simple. It requires thought, time and energy. But little acts of kindness go a long way!
Many people at RVM have lived through all sorts of difficult situations and through them have learned to be resilient and patient. This pandemic is just one more SNAG along the way. And so our residents have been creative in navigating through the bleak times. This is another moment when our creativity can bring us new experiences and new relationships. The question is how can we challenge ourselves to be open to new things rather than shutting down and saying no. Our residents who have had to dig deep in past times, have the capacity to find creative ways to help each other and themselves now.
Another important point is that this is also a time to reach out for help. Seek it out from friends and family, your churches and synagogues, but also from the services that RVM provides like Linda Bellinson (x7157) and Father Joel (x7296). The important thing is not to go it alone! Reach out for support. This is a community. It is our community! Take advantage!
Articles with information on how pets and plants help you to deal with Isolation and Depression:
https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/national/companion-dogs-help-with-pandemic-anxiety
https://www.newportacademy.com/resources/well-being/pets-and-mental-health/
https://greatist.com/grow/plants-mental-health#They-remind-you-to-keep-moving
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