How to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse

Social Distancing and Staying Sane

Frank King 

Social Distancing Saves Lives Slowing the Spread of Infection - But Can Be Toxic

“But what I do have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career.”

Liam Neeson, from the movie Taken

A friend called me shortly after the Pandemic began, and social distancing became the order of the day, in need of advice and counsel. He began by saying, “I am really struggling with this social isolation. You work in the mental health field, right?” I replied, “Well, I’m not a clinician, but I do play one on stage.” The humor in my retort was lost on him, and I realized that he was truly in need of help.

I said, “Tell me what’s going on.” He said, “There has got to be a name for what I’m going through mentally, dealing with this crisis.” I said, “Tell me your symptoms.” He said, “I sleep too much , or I can’t sleep, I eat too much, or I can’t eat, when I do sleep, I have trouble getting out of the bed in the morning, even to do something as simple as my personal hygiene. Is there a mental health term for that?” I replied, “Yes, it’s called Tuesday.”

I live with two mental illnesses, depression, and chronic suicidal ideation, better known, as some of my relatives term it, “not right in the head.” So, I wake up in an uncertain world, every day, Pandemic, or no.

It seems that, thanks to social distancing, neuro-typical folks are day in and day out living with what those of us with mental illness live with year in and year out. The good news is, I’ve discovered that the skills that I have developed and the self-care plan I have cobbled together, that get me out of bed every morning, and allow me to put one foot in front of the other until it’s a socially acceptable time to go back to bed and pull the covers over my head, and binge watch Netflix, are transferable, and can help neuro-normal people during the Pandemic to stay alive and thrive.

At this point you may be thinking, “Great, but how does all of that tie into the Zombie Apocalypse?” Good question.

Think of it this way. How is the virus spread? Its spread by water droplets from where? From the mouth of someone who is infected. And how does one become a Zombie? You become a Zombie after a bite by the mouth of a Zombie. So, the method of transmission is similar.

Then let’s say I was a cast member in the series “The Walking Dead,” for all ten seasons, and all of a sudden there was in fact a Zombie Apocalypse. My first thought would be, “I’ve got this. I’ve seen this before; I know what to do. We round up all the people who are not infected, build a fort, plant some vegetables, raise some livestock, and watch out for anyone with a baseball bar wrapped in barbed wire. And we teach everyone else to do the same.”

I’ve been doing something similar during the pandemic. I’ve done podcasts, webinars, virtual keynotes, and radio interviews teaching neuro-typical people, wigged out by the Pandemic and the social restrictions, how to use the techniques that those of us with mental illness use to survive and thrive. And that advice is what follows.

What to expect. Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. Chances are you are experiencing anxiety, worry, and fear, concerning your own health, the health of others, and personal challenges. In addition, you may be living with loneliness, anger, boredom, and frustration, depression, hopelessness, and the inclination to use alcohol and/or drugs to cope.

You need to do your best to understand the risks, by getting the facts. Do your best to stay up to date, while limiting your media exposure. Turn to credible sources. My suggestion is to listen to your governor, your mayor, and other local authorities, who are on the ground, in your area, with their finger on the pulse of the situation. And don’t be afraid to ask questions of your healthcare providers, both mental and physical concerning your individual situation.

Reduce your financial stress by staying in touch with your employer, and reaching out to your creditors, and those who provide your utilities, cable, phone, internet, garbage collection, water and power, to see what provisions they’ve made for those likely to be unable to pay, in the short run.

Stay in touch with friends and family via Zoom, Skype, Facetime, texting, social media, email, and old-fashioned telephone calls.

Practice practical ways to cope and relax. Try meditating, journaling, exercising, and healthy eating. Revisit old hobbies and take this opportunity to start new ones you’ve always wanted to try. Me personally, I’m organizing and deep cleaning our house, something that is long overdue. Throw away what needs throwing away and give away anything of value that you no longer need or use. And do something nice for someone else. Getting out of your own head and focusing on someone else’s needs is a great way to lift your spirits as well as someone else’s.

Control the things you can control and let the rest go. Plan your days and your nights. Make a schedule. Set your alarm and get up at the same time every day, as if you were going to leave for work. Set up a schedule for meals, naps or meditation, exercise, free/fun time, and bedtime.

And finally, be good to yourself. Give yourself a break. You don’t have to be super productive during this awful time. Just do what many of us with mental illness often do, day in and day out, and focus on getting out of bed, putting one foot in front of the other, until it’s time to go back to bed, and binge watch Netflix.