(Photo credit: Robert V. Ruggiero – Unsplash.com)

Did you see that the Netherlands was advising single people to quarantine with a “seksbuddy”? (Read it here) Leave it to the Scandinavians to merge liberal views with creativity, to foster resilience and safety from a virus. Good idea, no? Of course, there is the issue of how you choose a healthy or uninfected person. But how do you date without jeopardizing yourself or the other, when we can be asymptomatic but can pass it on?

This pandemic has not only created much anxiety and fear around being physically close to others, but it has also affected how we establish emotional bonds. How do we relate to others from 6 feet away? It just does not seem realistic to expect that in another month or two, it will be back to the old order and we will not think twice about hooking up on a first date. Yes, I do remember that past, with HIV+ and AIDS. I also remember how many deaths and losses came into our lives. There may be some invincible young people who might throw caution to the wind and get on with their lives, but I surely hope they will not regret such abandon. There is still so much unknown about COVID-19.

So how do you handle the worry over meeting others, dealing with financial concerns, and probably fear over loved ones getting sick? About the only way I know how to deal with a challenging situation, is first taking care of one’s self. If you are in good health, you can handle what comes your way, what you might have to do for your partner, your friends, your family. This is not a matter of being selfish but self-protective. If you go down, who will do what you have been doing for others? Eating healthy foods, getting enough rest and doing some exercise and meditating, can do a lot to keep ourselves in good stead. So does encouraging others to do the same.

We are all absolutely in the debt of those healthcare workers, grocery store clerks, postal employees and other essential personnel. If you are one of them, the whole world owes you gratitude. If you are related to one, stay safe so you do not add to their burden. Regardless of how we ended up in this quagmire, we are in it TOGETHER. If we all do our share of prevention, we will survive TOGETHER.

Author Profile

Janan Broadbent, PhD
Janan Broadbent, PhD
As a psychologist in private practice since 1979, Janan Broadbent, Ph. D. offers individual, couples, group and family therapy, in addition to conducting workshops on topics such as stress management, communication skills and assertiveness. She writes about current issues relevant to relationship building and conflict resolution in LGBTQ and minority populations, with emphasis on health, fitness and education.

Born in Turkey, Dr. Broadbent earned her undergraduate degree in psychology in 1965. At that time, first as a Fulbright Scholar, then as a CENTO Fellow, she received her master's and doctorate degrees in psychology and education from the University of California at Los Angeles. She has taught graduate and undergraduate courses in psychology at St.Mary's College of Maryland, Mt. Vernon College in Washington, D. C., Johns Hopkins University and the College of Notre Dame in Baltimore. From 1981 to 1988, she was also the Director of Counseling at Notre Dame College.
While in graduate school, Dr. Broadbent worked for the Voice of America radio program, writing and recording materials on the cross-cultural college experience. She has been interviewed on various news programs on TV and has received media training.
Dr. Broadbent is a member of the American Psychological Association and has served as the chair for the Public Affairs Board and as a member of the Executive Council of the Maryland Psychological Association.
Dr. Broadbent's office is located at:
Village of Cross Keys, 120 West Quadrangle, 2 Hamill Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21210-1847 phone: 410-825-5577