ISOLATION
Jean Criss
ISOLATION
How to cope, be self-motivated and inspirational to others. I turned bittersweet grapefruit into sweet ole’ lemonade from a life experience. When isolation became a turning point in my life, a means for self-help and an opportunity for change. During times like these, reflect and focus. Are you feeling isolated or depressed? What changes can you make to impact your lifestyle? How to focus on positivity and become inspired.
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic makes everyone question the following. . .
How do I cope during long isolation? What is the difference between isolation and quarantine? Is this isolation self-imprisonment? Does loneliness lead to isolation? Does social isolation impact your physical and mental well-being? Does isolation lead to depression and anxiety? What precautions can we take with homebound isolation as they do in hospital infectious disease wards? Are there things we can be doing, as a society at large, or in the four walls at home, as example, to improve our lifestyles, healthcare, and work/life balance? Can we change the perception of our mind-set and impact how isolation affects others? There are many unknown questions and concerns we have at this time - focus on the known, the data, the facts.
Our current climate in the world brings us isolation and desolate times. A time when we may feel alone during a public health crisis, with no one to turn to daily, to meet up and chat with on a regular basis. We remain within our four walls. We forego family and friends, limit visitations, distance business colleagues and networking organizations where we socialized often and frequent. We close the doors and walk away for a short while, hopefully. This too shall pass, as they say. Every woman and man is an island right now. This visual depicts our current state.
Communication platforms that seem natural are now extinct. Face-to-face communications is at a six-foot distance, if at all. We are down in the dumps. While online external communications were known to be booming for many of us over time, offline methods of external communication were proven as valid, effective and relevant marketing forums. Many businesses held or attended in-person events, trade shows and speaking engagements, which have been a great way to meet face-to-face with customers and prospective customers, to talk about company initiatives. In an age when customers are bombarded with information online, going offline is a refreshing change and an effective strategy. As we shift inward to our inner households for all communications, we turn to facetime, Skype, Zoom or WEchat, as example. Traditional phone calls, text messaging, and virtual events and hope our technology keeps up with the high demand that is upon us.
So how do we bring up our self-esteem and keep that uplifting beat once upon all of us? How do we pick ourselves up off the mat during such turbulent times? How can we self-motivate and lift up our own spirits? It is difficult when we hear so much sadness during the daily news 24/7, getting worse day by day. People ill and dying all over the world. It makes you wonder if the world is coming to an end. Are we self-destructing? Was it as simple as a virus like this one to take so many lives this fast? We’ve been so nervous as a world about chemical warfare for years involving silent, invisible, poisonous gases causing major devastations. Is Covid-19 any different? This has become a deadly, invisible, warfare known to affect us by touch and encounter. I didn’t like hearing the words ‘we are at War’ but I guess we are upon ourselves.
It reminds me of other Infectious Diseases like Tuberculosis, Malaria, MRSA, Staph, E.coli, SARS, Norovirus, Hepatitis C, only much worse. While there has been fact gathering, clinical trials, research and treatments over time for these diseases, we are in an unprecedented state with thousands and thousands suffering. We are fearful and in a rush for solutions with Covid-19 and time is of the essence.
As we take strict precautions to protect, think about what else can be done to make change? What can you do to impact the future? The future of our children, grandchildren, our livelihoods. Self-isolation must not turn into self-imprisonment. Isolation does not discriminate on age, gender, or across borders. Loneliness is something we can’t ignore.
Devastation brings us home in a different way of social connection. A lack of social connections has a serious impact on our physical and mental health. Conversely, communicating and helping people out of loneliness has a positive impact on their well-being, and on every aspect of personal health, from head to heart. So be that person and reach out while you have time.
Take the time, make the time – it does matter.
It’s known that 32% people have increased risk of stroke; 29% increased risk of heart disease and 26% increase risk of mortality during isolation (https://www.noisolation.com/global/). Let’s beat those odds.
While I am not an expert on these topics, during my four-year recovery with breast cancer, I spent ten very long days in an isolation ward from a flesh-eating disease called MRSA. My desolate days at this hospital were dark and dreary. I learned a lot about self-discovery and took time to get inspired. ‘Hell yes!’ I missed my family - my young toddlers especially, my spouse, parents, siblings, relatives, colleagues, staff and employees, but I had NO other option than to focus on what was presented to me, at that time. I was scared and wasn’t given a choice – very much like the situation we are all in today. I found ways to give back and to give of myself.
I kept my mind active, busy and positive, focused and nurtured while I was in pain yet healing in recovery. What I did was put my energy into a positive mind-set. I didn’t express my feelings with anyone or share my work with them. I just decided to keep busy and proceeded to document my intimate experiences from my hospital bed. This was the only way I could get thru my days in isolation. It may sound depressing but this allowed me to do market research and use my mind. You can read more about my days in the hospital ward in “My Pain Woke Me Up: BLISS!” chapter 12. Here’s what I set out to do during my recovery;
First, I pulled out my laptop and wrote out an annual business plan for work.
This assignment was not asked of me but I took a fiscal jump start and not only completed Q4 but looked ahead another three quarters to project next year sales and team performance, then submitted electronically to management from my hospital bedside. They were impressed! 😊
2. I documented my journey with breast cancer year to date.
I logged all surgical procedures -- when, where, why, recovery process, with whom - top Docs, outcomes, complications, meds, etc. I created a spreadsheet which I later turned into a book!
3. The journal helped me document what became “My Pain Woke Me Up” trilogy.
A book series about my life experiences from survivorship through divorce, entrepreneurship and the pursuit of happiness. All the good, bad and indifferent that goes along the way. I learned to write as therapy and channel my energy into positivity to help others, the way I learned to help myself tough it out during challenging times.
4. I designed a new post-surgical Bra that I desired to wear.
The first Bra “The Nina Bra”, then innovated a post-surgical line of Bras, panties, undergarments for women and men who underwent any stage or phase of post-op breast surgery to fit their lifestyle. I never liked what I wore during my several years recovering. I motivated myself to change the intimate experience for future breast cancer survivors. I looked beyond breast cancer to offer solutions to complement the line with a colorful, contemporary collection. Products found here CRISSCROSSIntimates.com.
5. I thought about our caregivers, what they were wearing, what they desired to wear and what I would prefer to wear as a patient in a hospital.
I had a passion for fashion most my life and as I met more and more patients and nurses at hospitals, I opted to innovate products for all of us. I designed a USPTO Utility-patent post-surgical Hospital Gowns and Medical Scrubs that have unique contemporary designs also using the CRISSCROSS trademark. Today with Covid-19, I would like to put these designs into mass production to support our healthcare providers. Contact me.
6. I thought about self-care and colored my hair with semi-permanent while in the hospital.
Yes, not recommended I’m sure but it lifted my spirits. It took all but a few minutes and made the world of difference with attitude and demeanor. I didn’t jeopardize my breast health while healing.
7. Today I engage and fill my days with writing, blogging, reading and communicating.
I keep updated on industry news and take time to update web content, tweak social media, SEO campaigns, or the like. I write from the heart and from personal experiences. I completed some Spring cleaning in-home and cooked a few meals, more than typical. I feel like I am getting back to my norm before the hustle and bustle of NYC area living. I am corresponding with family and friends and relatives abroad (Italy) to do frequent check-ins. We are doing what we can to fill our time/days.
Stay strong. Focus on your self-help and positive mental health and well-being. When isolation is at an all-time high with our current worldwide crisis, determine the best path for your mental health and wellness to make change happen and allow yourself to move in a positive direction. This may be your wakeup call. Don’t ponder the crucial questions. Celebrate life, wherever you are and whomever you may be with during this time of isolation. Make an impact today. Follow your heart. Give back. We’ll get through this period stronger than ever.
Jean Criss is an author, writer, fashion designer and mediapreneur. For more information about Jean Criss and her books, blogs and brands, contact her at either jean@jeancrissmedia.com or jean@crisscrossintimates.com. Wishing you all the breast!
