Weekly Updates: Feeling Anxious?
TeleMedicine & Online Scheduling

Dear Valued Patients,

Feeling stressed? 

The stresses and changes to our routines caused by the pandemic are causing a lot of women to develop symptoms of anxiety or depression. These symptoms may include changes in sleep (either trouble sleeping or feeling like sleeping all the time), changes in appetite, excessive worrying, fatigue, irritability, and/or difficulty concentrating. You can also develop physical symptoms such as rapid heart rate or palpitations, sweaty palms, dry mouth, body aches, and digestive issues. If you would like to discuss symptoms of possible anxiety or depression, we encourage you to schedule a TeleMed visit with Dr. Salisbury or Dr. Zaander.

What can you do to help combat these symptoms of anxiety and depression?

• Regular exercise. Yoga especially has been shown to reduce anxiety symptoms in studies, but any form of exercise helps.
• Limit caffeine and alcohol. Both caffeine and alcohol can make symptoms worse.
• Try Meditation. Apps such as Calm or Insight Timer have easy guided meditations for beginners. If you’re having trouble sleeping, a guided sleep medication at bedtime can also be very helpful.
• Limit media exposure. Many of us frequently check the news, whether on TV, the internet, or social media, to stay up-to-date, but this can lead to more stress and worry. Try to set aside a certain time every day to check-in and stay informed, then set it aside for the rest of the day. Turn off all those notifications!
• Connect with loved ones. Zoom sessions, multi-way calling, there’s all sorts of tech to help you chat with family and have girl’s night “in”. You can even watch a movie with friends or family using Netflix Party.
• Talk therapy. It really works! Many therapists are doing sessions remotely. Schedule a TeleMed visit with Dr. Zaander or Dr. Salisbury if you would like a personal recommendation for a therapist. You can also explore online services such as BetterHelp or TalkSpace.
• Medication. There’s no shame in needing medication for symptoms of anxiety or depression. If your symptoms are interfering with your ability to function, we encourage you to schedule a TeleMed visit to discuss possible medication treatment.

TeleMedicine and Online Scheduling

Dr. Salisbury and Dr. Zaander are offering a full schedule of TeleMed appointments Monday through Friday. If you have concerns you’d like to address, don’t hesitate to schedule. These appointments are billed to insurance just like an office visit.

To schedule, visit our website www.drngyn.com, there are links to the online scheduling portal for Dr. Salisbury and Dr. Zaander. It’s really easy! You can also call the office between 9 am and 1 pm to schedule, 503-908-1646.

Stay Home, Stay Healthy!
Dr. Zaander and Dr. Salisbury