Development and beyond: Helping children face the pandemic

Dr. Curtis Cripe and NTL Group have done considerable work with children with developmental issues and have helped countless families in the process. However, Dr. Cripe admits that today, because of the global health crisis, families face an entirely new challenge.

For today’s blog, Dr. Curtis Cripe provides an important public service. He shares a few ways in which parents can help their children both mentally and emotionally by expanding their understanding of the coronavirus pandemic and the situation everyone is in.

Parents should explain that everyone is having a hard time as well.

When children know that everyone else can’t go to places like the mall or playgrounds or fast food joints, they’ll begin to understand the gravity of the situation. Acknowledging that these are challenging times should be one of the first things parents should do. But along with this, parents should also reassure their children that the pandemic will pass and that the world will be safe again. Also, telling kids that they can help keep people safe by staying home will give children a sense of purpose.

Parents should keep children busy by establishing a routine at home.

Much like in adults, keeping children’s minds and bodies active is an excellent way of lowering their stress levels, Dr. Curtis Cripe explains. When children have nothing to do, feelings of boredom or anxiety can creep in. A good balance of study and playtime will be more than effective. It is also highly recommended that parents join in on the activities of their children, such as doing chores or role-playing.

Curtis Cripe, Ph.D. heads research and development at the NTL Group, which employs neuroengineering technology that repairs brain dysfunction to treat a myriad of diseases and disorders. For more articles on cognitive health, visit this blog.

Coping with anxiety amid a pandemic

It’s difficult not to have anxiety amid this outbreak of Covid-19. People are stuck in their houses, news of the pandemic is an avalanche of worsening stories, and there is very little one can do to help. People can become unmotivated, they fall into a rut which can affect their capacity to work from home, and things can get worse, especially for people who already have mental health illnesses. Neuroengineering expert Curtis Cripe believes that it is normal for people to feel some form of anxiety during this pandemic.

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Because of the pandemic, it might be difficult to see an expert who can help you deal with your anxiety. In order to cope with it in this odd situation, you must first identify the symptoms in order to manage them. For example, there are a lot of people who feel anxiety over the fact that they are surrounded with uncertainties right now. Uncertainties about their health, their financial well-being, the safety of their family and loved ones, and so on. If you are feeling this, what you can do is focus more on things that are under your control. This includes following social distancing rules, eating healthy, exercising, and accepting the fact that worrying about things you cannot change will only make things worse.

Anxiety can affect people in different ways during this pandemic. For us to combat this, we must fight it symptom by symptom. If you feel isolated, go out for a walk. If you feel depressed, talk to a loved one or a friend about your situation. Curtis Cripe claims that everyone is fighting their own battles with anxiety. Perhaps in helping others, we can find the solution to our own anxieties.

Dr. Curtis Cripe was recently asked to participate in a White House-NASA committee for TeleHealth/TeleMedicine during the COVID-19 outbreak. The committee has been asked to spearhead long-term and on-going TeleHealth and TeleMedicine protocols and procedures that can be followed during the current and future Pandemics as well as TeleMedicine and TeleHealth even after the COVID-19 diminishes. The committee proposals have been accepted and is now moving forward Internationally with UN participation. For more reads on mental health, visit thiswebsite.