DC COVID-19 Information
Managing Anxiety
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Thank you all for your flexibility, patience, and understanding as we respond to the growing public health concern of COVID-19. We know the sudden changes to your regular schedules, and having to leave campus homes, and the transition to distance learning has and will be stressful for many. It's completely expected and appropriate to experience stress, anxiety, and fear during situations like this. We want to reassure you that the Office of Counseling and Accessibility remains open and that Defiance College is committed to supporting you. Some important things to know:

STRATEGIES TO MANAGE ANXIETY & STRESS
TAKE INTENTIONAL INFORMATION BREAKS
Set limits on how much time you spend reading or watching news about the outbreak. Make sure to take time away from the news to focus on things in your life that are going well and that you can control.

GET THE FACTS
Find people and resources you can depend on for accurate health information such as the CDC and the Ohio Department of Health.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
Eating healthy food, getting enough sleep, and regular exercise are just a few ways to take care of yourself. For more resources check out some links below:
• 7 SCIENCE-BASED STRATEGIES TO COPE WITH CORONAVIRUS ANXIETY
• TIPS TO MANAGE STRESS AND WORRIES

When should I seek help?
It is normal to feel stress during such an unprecedented event. All of our lives have been impacted by COVID-19 and the attempts to contain the spread of this infectious disease. Please seek help if you or someone you know shows signs of stress lasting several days or weeks. IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS HAVING THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE OR HARMING THEMSELVES, CONTACT HELP IMMEDIATELY - see resources below for help.

Where can I seek help?
Defiance College Counseling Center
The DC Counseling Center remains open for students! Services will be provided remotely using phone, video, or online modules. All services remain free and confidential.
Services available include: consultations, treatment, 24/7 crisis response (419-783-2562), and referral. Contact the DC Counseling Center at 419 783-2562 or counseling@defiance.edu.

Other resources for students:
• National Suicide Prevention Helpline (1-800-273-8255)
• First Call for Help Crisis Center serving NW OHIO (1-800-468-4357)

How will counseling & accessibility services be provided?
Like most services at colleges across the nation, the DC Counseling Center and Accessibility Services will transition online during the COVID-19 outbreak. Services will be provided via phone calls and secure video meetings using TAO. Students currently receiving services will receive a call from staff to talk through meeting options and schedule their first meeting using distance technology. If you are not currently receiving services but would like to speak with someone about registering for services, please contact 419-783-2562, counseling@defiance.edu, or accessiblity@defiance.edu.

How often will I have phone/online meetings with counseling & accessibility staff?
Students can meet with staff as frequently as needed. Students and staff will talk through both the frequency and timing of meetings to determine what is most appropriate.

What is TAO (Therapy Assistance Online)?
TAO is a secure web platform that allows us to communicate with you while maintaining confidentiality. As a Defiance College student, you have free access to TAO. We will walk through TAO options during our phone call. Students can download the TAO app through the Google or Apple store for free.

STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS
MAINTAIN A CONSISTENT SCHEDULE
Developing and maintaining a routine is important for success. Try to:
• Wake up and go to bed at consistent times each day.
• Schedule specific blocks of time each day to work on classes and assignments.
• Schedule time for healthy habits (exercise, eating healthy foods, time with family and friends).

REMEMBER TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
Take it day by day and do the best you can to help yourself and others. Regular exercise to manage stress is important and so is getting adequate rest/sleep and maintaining good nutrition. If you have any risk factors or family care demands, try to arrange ways to work from home doing phone triage, follow-up, etc. I f you are moving to remote work, set up boundaries so you can maintain personal time and space. Curb how much news you watch daily and take some time to decompress. Check in with a friend, colleague, or family member through phone, text, etc.

SELF-CARE VERSUS AVOIDANCE
Self-care is important but sometimes we can disguise avoidance to look like self-care. An example of self-care: scheduling 30-60 minutes to watch your favorite TV; meanwhile, avoidance would be binge-watching an entire season of your favorite show when a paper is due.

If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact us at COVID19@defiance.edu or 419-783-2562.