Social Distancing, Quarantine, and Isolation During COVID-19
Given the risks of COVID-19 to those with underlying medical conditions, you may find yourself separated from others. While distancing yourself from others may help prevent the spread of coronavirus disease, it can have an effect on your mental health. Learn what you can expect and how to cope with the thoughts and feelings that come from social distancing.
What is Social Distancing?
Social distancing is a way to keep people from interacting closely or frequently enough to spread an infectious disease. Schools and other gathering places such as movie theaters may close, and sports events and religious services may be cancelled.
What is Quarantine?
Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who have been exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick. It lasts long enough to ensure the person has not contracted an infectious disease.
What is Isolation?
Isolation prevents the spread of an infectious disease by separating people who are sick from those who are not. It lasts as long as the disease is contagious.
What To Expect: Typical Reactions
Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations such as an infectious disease outbreak that requires social distancing, quarantine, or isolation.
Anxiety, worry, or fear related to:
- Your own health status
- The health status of others whom you may have exposed to the disease
- The resentment that your friends and family may feel if they need to go into quarantine as a result of contact with you
- The experience of monitoring yourself, or being monitored by others for signs and symptoms of the disease
- Time taken off from work and the potential loss of income and job security
- The challenges of securing things you need, such as groceries and personal care items
- Concern about being able to effectively care for children or others in your care
- Uncertainty or frustration about how long you will need to remain in this situation, and uncertainty about the future
- Loneliness associated with feeling cut off from the world and from loved ones
- Anger if you think you were exposed to the disease because of others’ negligence
- Boredom and frustration because you may not be able to work or engage in regular day-to-day activities
- Uncertainty or ambivalence about the situation
- A desire to use alcohol or drugs to cope
- Symptoms of depression, such as feelings of hopelessness, changes in appetite, or sleeping too little or too much
If you or a loved one experience any of these reactions for 2 to 4 weeks or more, contact your health care provider or one of the resources at the end of this web page.
Ways To Support Yourself During Social Distancing, Quarantine, and Isolation
Understand the Risk
Consider the real risk of harm to yourself and others around you. Take steps to get the facts:
- Stay up to date on what is happening, while limiting your media exposure. Avoid watching or listening to news reports 24/7 since this tends to increase anxiety and worry. Remember that children are especially affected by what they hear and see on television.
- Look to credible sources for information on the infectious disease outbreak
Be Your Own Advocate
Speaking out about your needs is particularly important if you are in quarantine, since you may not be in a hospital or other facility where your basic needs are met. Ensure you have what you need to feel safe, secure, and comfortable.
- Inform health care providers or health authorities of any needed medications and work with them to ensure that you continue to receive those medications.
- Learn about options for somatostatin analog injections.
Talk to Your Doctor
If you are in a medical facility, you may have access to health care providers who can answer your questions. However, if you are quarantined at home, and you’re worried about physical symptoms you or your loved ones may be experiencing, call your doctor or other health care provider:
- Ask your provider whether it would be possible to schedule telemedicine appointments via Skype or FaceTime for mental health, substance use, or physical health needs.
- In the event that your doctor is unavailable and you are feeling stressed or are in crisis, call the hotline numbers listed at the end of this web page for support.
Educate Yourself
Health care providers and health authorities should provide information on the disease, its diagnosis, and treatment.
- Do not be afraid to ask questions—clear communication with a health care provider may help reduce any distress associated with social distancing, quarantine, or isolation.
- Ask for written information when available.
- Ask a family member or friend to obtain information in the event that you are unable to secure this information on your own.
Connect with Others
Reaching out to people you trust is one of the best ways to manage your mental health during social distancing, quarantine, and isolation. You can:
- Use the telephone, email, text messaging, and social media to connect with friends, family, and others.
- Talk “face to face” with friends and loved ones using Skype or FaceTime.
- If approved by health authorities and your health care providers, arrange for your friends and loved ones to bring you newspapers, movies, and books.
- Sign up for emergency alerts via text or email to ensure you get updates as soon as they are available.
- Call SAMHSA’s free 24-hour Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990, if you feel lonely or need support.
- Use the Internet, radio, and television to keep up with local, national, and world events.
- If you need to connect with someone because of an ongoing alcohol or drug problem, consider calling your local Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous offices.
Work With Your Employer to Reduce Financial Stress
If you’re unable to work during this time, you may experience stress related to your job status or financial situation.
- Provide your employer with a clear explanation of why you are away from work.
- Contact the U.S. Department of Labor, toll-free at 1-866-4USWAGE (1-866-487-9243), your employer, or state programs to learn about medical leave or family leave to take care of dependents.
- Contact your utility providers, cable, and internet provider, and other companies from whom you get monthly bills to explain your situation and request alternative bill payment arrangements as needed.
Use Practical Ways to Cope and Relax
- Relax your body often by doing things that work for you—take deep breaths, stretch, meditate or pray, or engage in activities you enjoy.
- Pace yourself between stressful activities, and do something fun after a hard task.
- Talk about your experiences and feelings to loved ones and friends, if you find it helpful.
- Maintain a sense of hope and positive thinking; consider keeping a journal where you write down things you are grateful for or that are going well.
Sources for Reliable
Outbreak-Related Information
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA 30329-4027
1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636)
http://www.cdc.gov
World Health Organization – Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization
525 23rd Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
202-974-3000
http://www.who.int/en
After Social Distancing, Quarantine, or Isolation
You may experience mixed emotions, including a sense of relief. If you were isolated because you had the illness, you may feel sadness or anger because friends and loved ones may have unfounded fears of contracting the disease from contact with you, even though you have been determined not to be contagious.
The best way to end this common fear is to learn about the disease and the actual risk to others. Sharing this information will often calm fears in others and allow you to reconnect with them.
If you or your loved ones experience symptoms of extreme stress—such as trouble sleeping, problems with eating too much or too little, inability to carry out routine daily activities, or using drugs or alcohol to cope—speak to a health care provider or call one of the hotlines listed below for a referral.
Helpful Resources
Online NET groups
Inspire
(groups for lung, GI, and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor)
Website: https://www.inspire.com/
Association of Cancer Online Resources (ACOR)
Carcinoid Cancer Online Support Group
Website: http://listserv.acor.org/scripts/wa-ACOR.exe?SUBED1=CARCINOID&A=1
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Emergency Resources for the Cancer Community
Website: https://www.cancer.gov/contact/emergency-preparedness
NCI’s Cancer Information Service (CIS)
Phone: 1-800-4-CANCER
Available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time in English or Spanish. After business hours, recorded information is available.
Online LiveHelp® chat
Website: https://livehelp.cancer.gov/app/chat/chat_launch
Available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time in English or Spanish. After business hours, recorded information is available.
Email: NCIinfo@nih.gov
Hotlines
SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline
Toll-Free: 1-800-985-5990 (English and español)
SMS: Text TalkWithUs to 66746
SMS (español): “Hablanos” al 66746
TTY: 1-800-846-8517
Website (English): http://www.disasterdistress.samhsa.gov
Website (español): http://www.disasterdistress.samhsa.gov/espanol.aspx
SAMHSA’s National Helpline
Toll-Free: 1-800-662-HELP (24/7/365 Treatment Referral Information Service in English and español)
Website: http://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Toll-Free (English): 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Toll-Free (español): 1-888-628-9454
TTY: 1-800-799-4TTY (4889)
Website (English): http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Website (español): http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/gethelp/spanish.aspx
Treatment Locator
Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator
Website: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/locator/home
SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center
Toll-Free: 1-800-308-3515
Email: DTAC@samhsa.hhs.gov
Website: http://www.samhsa.gov/dtac
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Netrf.org terms and conditions: This information is not intended as and shall not be relied upon as medical advice. The Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation encourages all users to discuss any information found here with their oncologist, physician, and/or appropriate qualified health professional.
Staying up-to-date on COVID-19
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