T he Coronavirus pandemic is affecting people worldwide in ways no one ever dreamed possible— creating financial, social, physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual difficulties. Social isolation tops the list of difficulties for many.

To stay healthy and avoid contracting the virus, we’re instructed to shelter in place, avoid crowds, favor well-ventilated spaces, social distance, wear a mask, and wash hands frequently. All necessary precautions. But this doesn’t leave much room for the fulfillment of our basic human need of connection with others. Without this, we can suffer from fear, worry, sleep difficulties, concentration problems, changes in eating patterns, worsening of health problems, and depression. Many turn to mood altering substances to stem the tide of overwhelm—tobacco products, drugs, junk foods, and alcohol.

So how are we to cope with pandemic stress? The answer is: everyone experiences and handles changes in their lives differently. But there’s one “cure” that helps us all: connecting with others. This can be accomplished through meeting in person with masks on for a socially-distanced walk, texting, emailing, or posting a note the old-fashioned way through snail mail. The point is to be proactive. Choosing to do something helps us maintain our mental health.

It’s the actions we take little by little, day by day, that change our lives for the better.