Boundaries

Sharing your life with someone again can be hard. Moving back home with your family after creating your own routine and lifestyle can be a challenging adjustment to make. Setting boundaries can help you peacefully live with others and respect each other’s space.

How to understand and set boundaries:

Understand how you feel. A big part of setting boundaries is knowing what boundaries you need to set. Feeling discomfort or resentment is a sign your boundaries aren’t being respected. Take time to reflect what about a certain interaction or situation made you feel uncomfortable.

Be direct. Communicate to others what you’re feeling and what can be done to make the situation better. Offer solutions and replacements and try to be assertive (but not aggressive).

Give yourself permission. Sometimes we don’t set boundaries because we don’t feel like we deserve them, or we fear we might offend the other person or cause conflict. Creating and respecting boundaries are keys ways of maintaining a healthy relationship—do yourself and others around you a favor by respecting each other’s autonomy, space, and feelings.

Recognize and react when you start feeling cooped up

IT’S EASY TO START feeling antsy, restless, or even trapped when in the same environment for an extended period.

WHILE IT IS important TO listen TO GUIDELINES to ensure the safety of yourself and others, if in an area where you can, give yourself an extra five minutes in the car to listen to some songs you like while returning from an essential errand run.

BRAINSTORM ways to make your space feel different, by rearranging furniture, hanging pictures, and decorating wall space.

FEELING restless CAN manifest AT TIMES in unexplained irritability; try to acknowledge if this happens and explain it to those you are sheltering with or set boundaries and explain when you need to process it alone.

IF YOU CAN’T physically transport YOURSELF somewhere else, there are mindfulness exercises that can allow you to imagine a change of scenery. Limited time delving into video games, movies/television, books, music, and other art can help too.

YOU’RE not alone IN THIS EXPERIENCE. TALK TO friends, family, OR A counselor ABOUT

WHAT YOU’RE FEELING. Talk it out

Campus Health & Wellbeing Resources

Counseling Services

TELE-COUNSELING If a student is wanting to schedule a meeting with our Campus Health and Wellbeing Counselors feel free to call 805-756-2511

Local Resources

TRANSITION MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION (TMHA) www.t-mha.org A non-profit organization serving San Luis Obispo and North Santa Barbara Counties, Transitions-Mental Health Association is dedicated to eliminating stigma and promoting recovery and wellness for people with mental illness through work, housing, community and family support services. TMHA operates over 40 programs on the Central Coast, a wide variety of services that assist individuals and family members taking the recovery journey.

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS

COVID-19 Assistance Center: (805) 543-2444

Life-threatening, medical emergency: 9-1-1

Community Health Center (CHC): 1-866-614-4636

Sierra Vista Hospital: (805) 546-7600

French Hospital: (844) 585-6168

A.G. Hospital: (844) 245-3198

TMHA Front Desk: (805) 540-6500

www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019- ncov/

www.ReadySLO.org

Jed Foundation

www.jedfoundation.org/covid19-tipsand-resources

The Jed Foundation is a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for our nation's teens and young adults During this stressful time, we’re all looking for way to stay productive and get ourselves into a continuous rut. The Jed Foundation has offered some resources to help cope with those feelings:

Staying Connected to our friends and family virtually

Look to social media to stay connected with people. Check on friends you haven’t spoken to in a while, especially those that are in shelter-inplace and other countries.

Create structure to have a sense of balance

Find new daily goals. Make a schedule for the week. Make your bed in the morning for a new daily routine.

Find ways to relax and take care of your physical and mental health.

Limit the constant exposure to the COVID-19 news and limit the conversations centered around COVID-19.

Try new recipes and get creative in the kitchen.

Watch your favorite YouTube videos, TV shows, and movies that make you laugh.

Helping Others

Write out and share gratitude lists or share a time full of meaning and happiness on social media. This can be a way to do encourage other to do the same.

Create a fund with friends for those in need of financial support.

Be kind to others, especially those in the service industry.

Steve Fund

www.stevefund.org

Stay connected with your network

Let your support system know you need help. To access culturally trained Crisis Text Line Counselors, Text STEVE to 741741

Keep your hands clean using soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. Choose a hands-free greeting instead of a handshake.

Engage in self-care such as getting plenty of sleep.

This will help you stay grounded and calm.

Reduce media exposure

If you find yourself on information overload which can trigger anxiety.

Remain reality based on coronavirus by using trusted sources with accurate up-to-date information.

Centers for Disease Control cdc.gov

American Public Health Association apha.org

National Child Traumatic Stress Network ntcsn.org

World Health Organization who.int

There are many ways to pause when you’re feeling stressed, overwhelmed, anxious and any other emotion. These ways can be breathing, moving your body, being grateful, creating of list, phoning a friend, and meditating. For more resources on how to take a pause click the link above.

Mindful Moments

loveislouder.com

Being apart doesn’t mean that we are alone or disconnected. Taking care of our mental health and supporting each other helps us cope with stress, anxiety, and protect our immune system. If someone you know is feeling overwhelmed right now, you aren’t alone. To have a free confidential chat with a trained counselor 24/7, text HOME to 741741 or call 1-800- 273-TALK (8255).

Take a deep breath

Louder Action Center

It’s important to be patient with ourselves and others while we are staying in and physical distancing. When tensions rise and tempers flare the best thing to do in that moment is to take a step back to regroup. Recharging allows us to give a better perspective so we can decide how to react whether to react and what to do next.

When we are feeling overwhelmed or get a burst of anxiety, our often reacts by taking rapid, shallow breaths. Slowing and deepen- ing the breath help us feel calmer and gain a better perspective on the situation.

Active Minds

www.activeminds.org/blog/tips-tostay-mentally-well-while-workingfrom-home/

Eating Disorders & COVID 19

www.huffpost.com/entry/eatingdisorder-recovery-coronavirus-advic e_l_5e743b0ec5b6f5b7c541755d