Connectedness supports psychological, physical well-being
By Ms. Jennifer Marquez, 445th Airlift Wing Director of Psychological Health
/ Published May 11, 2020
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- The world looks much different today than it did a few months ago.
During these uncertain and difficult times, it is important to stay connected – connection to others and connected to the person you are in everyday life.
While we are encouraged to practice social distancing, you may feel it to be a challenge to connect to others.
Connection isn’t always about physical distance to another person(s). Connection is an emotional tie that you may have to a person or an object. For example, military members are often separated from their loved ones though they may feel physically disconnected they can maintain an emotional connection through phone calls, video calls, emails, texts or letters.
All of these ways of connection not only support psychological and physical well-being they also create a coping mechanism for dealing with separation. People who stay connected find purpose in their life.
As we head in to the upcoming months and the unknown, it is important to sustain connection with others.
For those who live with others, they may feel stronger connections during this time but they may also feel stressed as their routine has changed and they are trying to navigate this new change in their life.
For those who live alone, the stress may be the lack of contact with others through their job or social events.
If you are feeling distressed, you are not alone. What you are feeling is normal. Several organizations have provided free resources and coping skill ideas to navigate through this time of uncertainty.