Stress caused by the lockdown: Zurich helps

Zurich Care Management: Support in an exceptional situation

April 23, 2020

Many people are finding the forced withdrawal into their own four walls to be a strain. That's why the experts from Zurich Care Management are currently on hand to provide support via video conference, telephone or e-mail.

Zurich Care Management normally helps employees of corporate customers get back to work after an accident or serious illness. Now its experts are offering support via video conference, telephone or e-mail, as the current exceptional situation has made preventive support in the sense of care management more important. The reasons why people may want to talk are as varied as their current life situations:

SME entrepreneurs: Finding perspectives

Many SME entrepreneurs are fearing for their existence, as they have either had to shut down their business or they have no customers. This is a real threat that causes psychological strain for many people. These worries often affect the whole family because too many stress factors convene at once.

Five tips for SME entrepreneurs

Find out about the support options offered by the state, your professional association or your bank that you can take advantage of. Don't hesitate to make use of all the help that is available to you, be it financial, emotional or even just purely practical.
Network with other entrepreneurs who are stuck in a similar situation and exchange ideas with them – some examples: delivery services, online services or payment via app.
Keep in touch with your employees: this situation is placing them under strain as well. Try to support each other and work out solutions together.
Use the forced break to do all the things you previously didn't have time for; for example, bookkeeping, making a homepage or working out a marketing strategy. This will put you in a position where you are ready to go when you are operative again. After all, you can look forward to the fact that this exceptional situation will hopefully soon be over.
At the same time, the forced timeout can also be a chance for you to take things down a notch, get some rest and spend more time with family and partners. This can allow relationships to take on a whole new quality.

Those who live alone: Connect with the world

It is currently difficult for single people living alone, who can feel isolated and alone with their fears. Maybe someone has moved into their own apartment for the first time and doesn't dare to visit their parents anymore. Others used to be out with their friends all the time and now feel shut in. The mood is tense even when shopping and you have to keep your distance everywhere; this intensifies the feeling of being alone.

Five tips for those who are on their own

Keep in touch with other people: Have a conversation from balcony to balcony with that neighbor you like, call friends regularly or network via internet forums.
Offer your support to people around you: Could you take over certain tasks for a colleague with children? Learn English with your godchild over Facetime? Or do the gardening for a neighbor who is looking after a sick partner?
In particular, those living alone can take advantage of this situation to find some breathing space. Use the new-found time to rediscover a neglected hobby, to learn something new or to redecorate your apartment.
The pause button has just been pushed on your life. This also presents an opportunity to ask yourself: What is really important to me? What do I want out of life? And what must I do to make my dreams come true?
Keep reminding yourself: We currently find ourselves in an exceptional situation, which in all probability will be over relatively soon. That said, do not hesitate to seek help if the strain becomes too great.

Working parents: Preventing overload

Working parents can be pushed to the limit, as they often no longer have any childcare options. This is an even bigger problem for single parents or those whose partner works in the medical field, for example. However, even if both parents are suddenly at home 24 hours a day, conflicts can arise. On top of this comes the stress of home schooling, in which parents must also take on the role of teacher.

Five tips for working parents

Discuss how you can create a balance between work and family with your employer. Employees who have to reduce their workload temporarily to care for their children can apply for compensation for loss of income from the compensation office.
Right now, you cannot be perfect on all fronts: Is your hair color growing out? Has your shower head calcified? Is the ironing piling up in the bedroom? Don't be hard on yourself: focus your energies on what's really important.
Give your children as clear a daily rhythm as possible and reward them when everything goes well – for example, with their favorite lunch or a cool film after schoolwork. Do you have to work in the morning and your children can't motivate themselves? Maybe it would be better to work in the afternoon or early evening.
To avoid violent conflicts in overly stressful situations, it is important to relieve anger in a different way: Go into the bathroom and shout? Run for ten minutes? Or listen to loud music with headphones? The main thing is that you feel better afterwards.
Try to enjoy beautiful moments together as a family in spite of all the stress. Being forced to stay at home can present an opportunity for siblings in particular. And reserve some small moments of "me time" for yourself, even if it's only a warm bath in the evening.

People who suffer from anxiety: Don't let your worries take over

The around-the-clock reporting on the coronavirus is especially upsetting for sensitive people. Many people are extremely worried about getting sick or infecting someone in a risk group. This exceptional situation can also increase existing anxiety or other psychological strain.

Five tips for people with high anxiety

It's a fact that the current situation is unsettling and it is natural that you are worried. However, it is important not to let these fears take over your life. If you find yourself only thinking about the virus or if anxiety is keeping you awake at night, these should be taken as alarm signals. In these cases, you should definitely seek out support – from your family, friends or even from a counseling center or psychologist.
When many people go outside, the necessity for physical distance causes them to become emotionally distant as well. But the man who avoids you in the supermarket and heads for a different aisle doesn't mean it personally: He's probably just as worried as you are. Maybe you can defuse the situation with a smile.
Do not shut yourself off completely: maintain contact with other people – this is also possible at a distance. Ensure you get enough exercise. It not only strengthens your immune system, but also reduces stress and lifts your mood.
Be aware that you can reduce your risk of infection by following the FOPH's safety measures. Switzerland has one of the highest standards of living in the world and an excellent healthcare system.
Consciously do something good for yourself. Listen to beautiful music, treat yourself to chocolates, watch a comedy or sit in the sun on the balcony. Positive moments can also happen during the corona crisis – and so they should.