1/ Q: I’m feeling anxious… & bored at the same time. Is this normal? Is there a solution?

A: Welcome to the paradoxical feeling of acedia – an old word used to describe that very now feeling of apathetic restlessness. Good news: There are evidence-based ways to fight back.
2/ Background:
Early Christian monks called acedia the “noonday demon” – the tough feelings you feel where you are alone, feeling listless & wonder why the day is dragging on forever. bit.ly/2Hq167u
3/ Modern author & poet Kathleen Norris (@knorriseyt) describes acedia as a feeling of restlessness, seeing the future as overwhelming & seeing the work ahead as never-ending.

Do you miss hanging out with people, yet cringe at the prospect of yet another Zoom happy hour?
4/ Acedia is a likely culprit – as its paradoxes emerge from the rocky soil of social isolation. Cloistered monks were alone, & so are we (at least more often than we are used to).
5/ Acedia can manifest by not caring about your appearance (hi, sweatpants), your relationships (hi, hrs on your📱instead of connecting with your partner IRL) or your work (hi, checking Insta while on meetings) & while it’s linked to depression, it’s more about lack of purpose.
6/ So: What to do?

1️⃣ Name it.
Research finds that when we recognize an emotion, it is easier to regulate. Having an agreed-upon name for a feeling also helps us because we are able to talk about it, reduce the stigma and get support.n.pr/34f9eke
7/
2️⃣ Accept it.
Acedia is a normal feeling right now. This pandemic has been dragging on, & it seems like there’s a lot more tough stuff to come. You’re not lazy, you are human.
8/ Nerdy Girls Aparna & Lindsey had a chance to discuss this very topic with social worker & Project Village founder Lauren Ross last week during a wellness Q&A. bit.ly/3m6SOjX
The three of us all stressed the importance of *community* & knowing that YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
9/
3️⃣ Integrate it.
Feeling purposeless isn’t an awesome feeling, but it can be a wake-up call to check in with yourself about what really matters.
10/ Try creating what @UWMadison lifestyle expert Dr. @christinewhelan calls a “Pandemic Purpose Statement” to help you structure your day so that you use your gifts, in keeping with your values, to make a positive impact on the lives of others. bit.ly/3dLnUe1
11/ Yes, there are going to be fears & anxieties that get in the way of actually following through on the meaningful goals you set for yourself, but this exercise has helped thousands of people focus on the good stuff. Oh, & those goals don’t have to be huge.

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More from @DearPandemic

20 Oct
1/ Q: Did a recent CDC study show that 85% of people who wear masks get COVID?

A: No. The @CDCgov study showed that close contact with people who had #COVID or visiting locations that offered on-site eating & drinking were associated with getting COVID. cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/6…
2/ This study does not offer any information about whether wearing a mask is a risk factor for getting #COVID19.

So where does this 85% figure come from?
3/ In the study, they also reported that 85% of those who tested positive for COVID-19 said they had worn a mask "always" or “often” & that 88.7% of those who tested negative for COVID-19 said they had worn a mask either "always" or “often”.
Read 15 tweets
14 Oct
1/ Are there really false-positives from COVID tests? If so, how is it possible for a test to pick up something that is not there?

A: Yep, they exist. Image Credit: Jernej Furman, focusonmore.com
2/ Two types of tests are commonly used to identify an active #COVID19 infection, & both of them can occasionally lead to a “false-positive” result, or a positive test result when there is actually no infection present.
3/ The two types of tests are:
1. PCR tests 🧬, which detect itty bitty pieces of the virus’ genetic material, &
2. Antigen tests 🦠, which detect signature proteins on the outside of the virus. (Note: Don’t confuse antigen with antibody tests 🩸 ! That's different.)
Read 10 tweets
13 Oct
1/ Q: What do you think of the idea of “focused protection” or “shielding” the vulnerable so that everyone else can get on with normal life?

A: We *wish* it were this easy, but sadly it’s not.
2/ While this approach sounds appealing on the surface, the deeper you dig the more the argument folds in on itself.

Let me explain...
3/ 👉The death and hospitalization toll even in under 65s would be staggering

👉No consideration of waning immunity and re-infection

👉No mention of impact of “Long Covid” for millions infected

👉Cordoning off of a large percentage of the population is not feasible
Read 31 tweets
13 Oct
1/ What do we do when college-age children come home at #Thanksgiving? Should they come home?

A: “Come Home & Stay Home” or “Don’t Come Home” are your best options. Coming home just for the Thanksgiving holiday & then returning to campus is *not* a good plan. p/c: Dan Renzetti
2/ Some of your options are clearly better than others from a #COVID safety perspective. Before we go through those options, we want to highlight a common mental bias to which we are all susceptible: We underestimate the risk of getting COVID from people we know and love.
3/ Dr. Birx mentioned this in a recent speech, as she noted increasing case counts that are likely driven by small gatherings of family. “We take down our guard when we are with people we know... & we assume if we know you, you couldn’t have COVID.”
bit.ly/2H4ykJK
Read 12 tweets
11 Oct
1/ Q: How can I boost my immune system?

A: Today we focus on the importance of sleep health as an evidence-based strategy for improving your immune system during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2/ * Long-term sleep deficiency is associated with a range of co-morbidities (type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, dementia) that put you at higher susceptibility & more severe outcomes of COVID-19.
3/ You can reduce your risk factors for these comorbidities by practicing good health behaviors, such as prioritizing sleep, exercise, and a diet rich in fruits and vegetables) Even little changes in lifestyle can add up over time.
Read 7 tweets
6 Oct
1/ Q: Is it true that #Sweden has gotten to herd immunity without lockdown? Should we all be doing what they are doing?

A: No, Sweden has not reached herd immunity, nor have they fared well economically or with respect to COVID-19 mortality.
2/ While there has been a fascination with being Sweden during this pandemic, there are many misconceptions about their experience that are worth clearing up:
2/ *Myth 1*: Sweden didn’t place restrictions on activities due to #COVID19

*Reality*: While it’s true there was no nationwide mandatory lockdowns as in Spain, Italy, the UK & US, Sweden did have a “lockdown lite."
Read 14 tweets

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