How does confinement affect families and couples?

The psychologists of the Atenea center give us the keys to keep calm in these weeks.

The current situation of confinement seems to be coming to an end, but... what protocols and psychological hygiene measures should families follow in these turbulent times?

Confinement and families: how to manage negative emotions?

The professionals of the Atenea center in Palma de Mallorca help us to shed light on this issue.

1. How do you think confinement may be affecting families?

We are living an unfamiliar situation for most of us, new measures, a different situation, many unanswered questions, uncertainty ..... All this affects our emotional, psychological and mental stability.

In a single day we go through many and diverse emotions: frustration, anger, bewilderment, sadness, insecurity, fear, anguish, joy, hope, love... all of them lead us to express ourselves in an incorrect or desperate way with those around us.

It is important to start from the premise that confinement affects us on a personal level. All the members that form the family nucleus feel this uncontrolled mixture of emotions.

We should not panic if we have discussions or misunderstandings with our partner, parents or children, about issues that had never caused us confrontations, it is normal. Within this peculiar situation that we are living, feelings are more intensified, needs come to light, we are less receptive and more susceptible.

2. In the context of a couple relationship without children, what do you think are the psychological and relational hygiene measures that should guide these days of quarantine?

There are different profiles of couples, depending on the routine to which they are accustomed:

Whatever the profile of the couple, find individual moments to disconnect and relax, talk more, communicate emotions and feelings and project future plans, are the tips from Atenea we give to couples in these different moments we are living.

This point is undoubtedly the most difficult and hardest that a human being must live.

There is no formula to avoid the pain and suffering caused by the loss of a loved one in unusual or sudden circumstances. We can only anticipate, speak from the Heart to our relative, tell him/her that he/she is important to us, that we love him/her very much and that we need him/her.

It is important to be able to contact our relatives and share with them the pain we feel.

Expressing and sharing are the basis to be able to cope better with these hard and difficult moments.

From Atenea, we have contact with each of our patients. We offer them the resources and tools that adapt to each of their needs and demands. We offer sessions by Skype, phone calls, messages...

Today more than ever, we must learn from this situation. To give more to those we want, to slow down. To know how to say enough, to fight against injustice, to value the little things that fulfill us, to love ourselves, to ask for forgiveness and to forgive.

We will get out of this! But if we don't learn anything, all our suffering and effort will have been for nothing.

• Couples who work outside the home all day and meet for dinner. The scenario they are living today is totally changed. If you are within this profile of couple, it is important to increase communication from the feeling, that is, to express how we feel to avoid conflicts caused by misunderstandings. We must take advantage of this moment to get to know ourselves better and enjoy more the moments as a couple. Preparing trips

• Couples who could share moments throughout the day depending on the intensity of work (breakfast together, lunch or dinner).

3. How to elaborate a grieving process when it is not possible to hold family meetings to say goodbye to the loved one? 4. At Atenea, what resources or tools are you providing to your patients to meet their needs, whether they are related to covid-19 or not?