We are living in unprecedented times. COVID-19 is now a global pandemic. Lives have been put on hold and there is much fear and anxiety about the future.
How can we overcome the uncertainty we find ourselves in?
Join us on Thursday April 9, 2020 at 12 noon for a free webcast hosted by Dr. Tim Lau, psychiatrist and president of the medical staff at The Royal: Building resiliency in times of uncertainty – conquering COVID’s emotional contagion.
Dr. Lau will share strategies to help people feel stronger, stories of bravery, and silver linings that will surely inspire. Applying principles of cognitive behavioural therapy, interpersonal therapy, mindfulness, and problem solving therapy, he will show how we can take control of our emotions without being defined and overwhelmed by them, foster hope and kindness, and transform this situation into something more meaningful.
Live Webcast details are as follows:
DATE: Thursday April 9, 2020
TIME: 12 noon
Link to the webcast: http://webcast.otn.ca/mywebcast?id=174775654
This webcast will be recorded and made available on theroyal.ca and will be shared across our social media channels.
Summary
We are living in unprecedented times. Never before has the entire world been locked down together with unending torrents of information and widespread tragedy. Our lives have literally been been put on hold. On top of the fears of infection, some of us are facing the uncertainty of making ends meet and being able to have the basic goods for daily living.
Join Dr Lau, a psychiatrist, and President of the Medical Staff, at The Royal as he discusses what is known about the invisible enemy we face and what we can do to respond. This includes both the virus but also the fear and anxiety that is arguably more contagious. He will share strategies to become stronger, some silver linings, amazing stories of heroism and bravery that will inspire us to find ways to overcome the uncertainty we find ourselves in, and turn tragedy into triumph. Heroism is a reality that health care workers, first responders, and those in our society that keep everything going, are now called upon to undertake.
In our minds, we need to change the idea of social distancing into physical distancing with psychological and social connectedness. Applying principles of cognitive behavioural therapy, interpersonal therapy, mindfulness, and problem solving therapy, he will show how we can master and take control of our emotions without being defined and overwhelmed by them. In 1654, scientist and philosopher Blaise Pascal wrote: “All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” An article in the Journal Science (Wilson 2014) suggests that there is some science behind that. Many of us, in our own homes, have lots of opportunity now to engage in reflection and contemplation.
We have an opportunity, on a scale never seen, together with the rest of humanity, to foster kindness, and bravery that will transform this tragic but temporary situation into something much more meaningful. Hope and the choice to adapt and improve, can be just as contagious, but more constructive and powerful. And it is something we all need to work on in these uncertain times. If we do, we will all be stronger afterwards.
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