FAQs: Coming to Mass General
I need to make an appointment for a non-COVID-19 health condition. Is it safe to come to the hospital? Answers to this and other FAQs about how Mass General is prepared to provide general care to patients.
Safe Care CommitmentGet the latest news on COVID-19, the vaccine and care at Mass General.Learn more
NewsJun | 2 | 2020
Over the last several months, physical distancing and quarantine have been an experience most could never have imagined. And while parts of the country and segments of industries are slowly reopening, there is still uncertainty about how long it will take for things to go back normal, or what the “new normal” will even look like.
As more time passes without clear answers, it’s very easy to feel tired of it all. Luana Marques, PhD, director of Community Psychiatry PRIDE and Mass General Research Scholar 2020-2025, offers insight into these feelings of quarantine fatigue and tips on working through them.
“Quarantine fatigue may look different from person to person, but overall, it’s defined as exhaustion associated with the new restrictive lifestyle that’s been adopted to slow the spread of COVID-19,” says Dr. Marques.
This exhaustion can be experienced differently by people, but symptoms may include:
As Dr. Marques notes, this is not an exhaustive list. “There is no ’right’ way to feel right now and however you may be feeling is valid in its own right.”
With summer around the corner and states easing restrictions in an effort to reopen, research from the University of Maryland has shown that between April 23rd and May 1st, many states saw more than a 30% decrease in the percentage of people staying home. There has also been a 20% increase in interstate travel across partially reopened states.
Dr. Marques warns of the danger in moving too fast. “It is important to understand that although states are making progress towards reopening, we have not yet reached the stage of what we are calling ‘the new normal.’ Partial reopening plans may feel like a green light for us, but it is just one step in a long process. After feeling the effects of quarantine fatigue for so many weeks, it may be tempting to get back out into the world to try to alleviate those feelings we’re having. This will only compound the problem and cause another infection spike. The key here is to figure out what we can put into place at home so that our mental health feels manageable without putting others at risk of contracting the virus.”
So what can we do to work through quarantine fatigue? Dr. Marques and members of the Department of Psychiatry at Mass General offer the following tips:
1. Practice Mindfulness: While mindfulness may not feel like a normal practice to some, it is an effective strategy that can help manage stress and actually change your brain.
The Department of Psychiatry has put together a curated set of resources to help patients and providers work through the stress of COVID-19. View the department's General Mental Health and Coping guide.
From nutritional tips to the latest health research and more, find news that helps you focus on achieving optimal health and wellness.
I need to make an appointment for a non-COVID-19 health condition. Is it safe to come to the hospital? Answers to this and other FAQs about how Mass General is prepared to provide general care to patients.
Researchers have developed an upgraded chest radiograph (CXR) explainable artificial intelligence model that was trained on thousands of well annotated CXRs.
Model also simulates how well vaccines would fare against potential future viral variants.
MGfC responds to capacity crisis from RSV and respiratory illness surge
Get answers to your questions about pregnant patients and the COVID-19 booster shot.
Researchers identified the relationship between neutrophil states and patient outcomes, including different subsets of granulocytes associated with severe and mild disease.