The world has changed, dramatically, in just a few short weeks. We find ourselves in the midst of a global health crisis that in the end, likely will affect all of us at some point. Everyone is reacting in his or her own way, feeling a gamut of emotions including everything from fear and panic to loneliness and depression and anxiety. Please be considerate of others’ feelings.

It also is important to continue to practice social distancing, perhaps even more so as COVID-19 spreads. That means staying safe not just for yourself, but for those you care about. That means staying at least six feet away from people as much as you reasonably can do so.

Yes, it likely feels disappointing that you cannot do some of the things you normally would do, such as attend sporting events, go on cruises, go to festivals and attend other gatherings. That may mean you cannot participate in group sports right now. But there is a reason for this: doing so can help slow the spread of coronavirus, protecting yourself and those you love.

For many people social distancing should mean no more running or walking groups, working from home as much as possible if reasonable for your profession, attending classes online, visiting friends or loved ones via Zoom, Skype or FaceTime instead of in person and cancelling or postponing conferences or large group meetings of any kind.

It seems as though no one is quite sure how long this pandemic will last or when things might return to “normal,” whatever “normal” means for you. In the meantime, be sure to practice good self-care and help others do the same. Get good sleep, eat healthy foods and exercise if you are able.

If you are struggling with feelings of anxiety or depression during these troubling times, reach out to a trusted mental health professional. Many clinicians are taking appointments via telehealth to help you through this crisis.