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Cover image of Reconnecting after Isolation
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Reconnecting after Isolation

Coping with Anxiety, Depression, Grief, PTSD, and More

Susan J. Noonan, MD, MPH

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How to keep calm, carry on, and reconnect during times of social isolation and emotional crisis.

Although spending time alone for short periods may be restorative and helpful, unintentional or involuntary isolation can have profound detrimental effects on emotional and physical health. We all need social interaction and meaningful relationships in our lives to be well and thrive. Without them, we flounder.

In Reconnecting after Isolation, Dr. Susan J. Noonan draws on our collective experience of the COVID-19 pandemic to help readers deal with the emotional impact of social isolation. Speaking...

How to keep calm, carry on, and reconnect during times of social isolation and emotional crisis.

Although spending time alone for short periods may be restorative and helpful, unintentional or involuntary isolation can have profound detrimental effects on emotional and physical health. We all need social interaction and meaningful relationships in our lives to be well and thrive. Without them, we flounder.

In Reconnecting after Isolation, Dr. Susan J. Noonan draws on our collective experience of the COVID-19 pandemic to help readers deal with the emotional impact of social isolation. Speaking as both a provider and recipient of mental health care services, Noonan combines her professional and personal experiences in an evidence-based and practical guide. Drawing on meticulous research and interviews with four psychologists, she outlines steps to overcome the emotional trauma of isolation.

The book touches on how social isolation, loneliness, and stress affect each of us individually and can sometimes provoke depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidality, and substance use. Describing specific lifestyle interventions that may help, it offers tips for

• developing effective coping skills
• facing isolation-induced fears
adapting effectively to the changes in our personal, family, work, academic, and social lives caused by imposed isolation
• finding effective, culturally sensitive mental health care
• improving sleep hygiene
• building and maintaining resilience
• adopting a healthy diet
• overcoming the fatigue burnout
• grieving a loss
• engaging in regular physical exercise
• keeping a daily routine or structure
• maintaining contact with others

Dr. Noonan also discusses re-entry anxiety, the challenging experience many have upon returning to their prior lifestyle, and the difficulty of establishing new school and work routines following social isolation. Accessible and compassionate, Reconnecting after Isolation empowers individuals to manage their own challenges, offering them a better chance of recovery and of staying well.

Reviews

Reviews

A readable and helpful book for people struggling with their mental health during the pandemic.

Openly acknowledging the isolation so many people faced in the pandemic and its ongoing impact on our mental health is so important, Reconnecting after Isolation goes further by addressing the consequences on those living with depression and other mental health conditions. Most importantly, Susan Noonan offers various paths to treatment, thoughtfully presentin options for each person to consider when looking for the appropriate steps forward toward better wellness.

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About

Book Details

Publication Date
Status
Available
Trim Size
5.5
x
8.5
Pages
272
ISBN
9781421444239
Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction
Part One. How Does Social Isolation Affect Me?
Chapter 1. What Is Social Isolation?
Chapter 2. Stress and Coping Skills
Chapter 3. Facing Our Fears
Chapter 4. Fatigue and

Acknowledgments
Introduction
Part One. How Does Social Isolation Affect Me?
Chapter 1. What Is Social Isolation?
Chapter 2. Stress and Coping Skills
Chapter 3. Facing Our Fears
Chapter 4. Fatigue and Burnout
Chapter 5. The Ability to Grieve
Chapter 6. Isolation and Mental Health
Chapter 7. Suicidal Thoughts or Impulses
Chapter 8. Substance Abuse and Addictions
Part Two. What Can I Do to Help Myself?
Chapter 9. Understanding the Basics of Mental Health
Chapter 10. Finding Effective Professional Mental Health Care
Chapter 11. Is Talk Therapy Right for Me?
Chapter 12. Building and Maintaining Resilience
Chapter 13. Looking Forward: Reentry Anxiety
Final Thoughts
Glossary
Resources
References
Index

Author Bio
Susan J. Noonan, MD, MPH
Featured Contributor

Susan J. Noonan, MD, MPH

Susan J. Noonan, MD, MPH, is a physician, certified peer specialist, mental health and wellness coach, speaker and consultant to Massachusetts General Hospital and to The Engage Initiative. She is the author of Take Control of Your Depression: Strategies to Help You Feel Better Now and Helping Others with Depression: Words to Say, Things to Do, and Reconnecting After Isolation: Coping with Anxiety...