Mind Control: Managing Your Mental Health During COVID-19

University of Toronto

About this Course

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Never in the history of humanity have so many people been feeling intense anxiety related to COVID-19 and the world it will leave in its wake.  The intent of this course is to give you a deeper understanding of the anxiety reaction as it relates to various aspects of our current life, ranging from our consumption of news to the way we talk to our children about this.  I will also give you clear strategies for managing and, in fact, turning off the anxiety response at least for short periods.  My sincere hope is that you will leave this course with a better understanding of how your brain reacts to crises, along with some powerful tools for managing it before it manages you.
In this course we will cover:

1  Introduction and Overview
2 Understanding the Anxiety Response
3 The Necessity of Strategies to Manage Anxiety
4 Achieving Relaxation: A Skill We All Need to Learn Now

1 Why Watching the News is Addicting and How to Manage Your Consumption
2 The Critical Art of Mental Distraction to Crowd Out Stressors
3 How We Think About Physical Distancing and Explaining it to Our Children

1 The Effects of Isolation
2 Some Strategies to Make Isolation More Tolerable
3 The Importance of Social Connection in a Physical Distancing World

1 The Need to Guard Against Depression: The Importance of Control
2 Bring it Together: Practice Makes Proficient
3 Invitation to Suggest Additional Videos

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 3 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Chinese (Simplified), Italian, Vietnamese, Korean, German, Russian, Turkish, English, Spanish, Hungarian

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.79/5 (2,529 Ratings)

Steve Joordens

Professor

Department of Psychology

467,254 Learners

3 Courses

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 3 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Chinese (Simplified), Italian, Vietnamese, Korean, German, Russian, Turkish, English, Spanish, Hungarian

Offered by

University of Toronto

Established in 1827, the University of Toronto is one of the world’s leading universities, renowned for its excellence in teaching, research, innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as its impact on economic prosperity and social well-being around the globe.

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating98%(13,481 ratings)

Week

Week 1

1 hour to complete

The Machinery Underlying Anxiety and How to Control It

This module is intended to introduce you to the nervous system underlying your anxiety response (the sympathetic nervous system) and also to its opposite side, the relaxation (or parasympathetic nervous system). You will learn that the best way to shut down anxiety is to learn how to put your body in a relaxed state. I guided relaxation audio file is also provided with the fourth video to help you practice learning to relax.

1 hour to complete

4 videos (Total 47 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

4 videos

Introduction and Overview10m

Understanding the Anxiety Response13m

The Necessity of Strategies to Manage Anxiety8m

Good Relaxation: A Skill We All Know to Learn Now14m

1 reading

Guided Relaxation Audio10m

1 practice exercise

End of Module Knowledge Check

Week

Week 2

1 hour to complete

Managing Anxiety by Managing Your Environment

Another way to manage your anxiety is by being careful about what stimuli and activities you expose yourself to. Some make your more anxious, some counter anxiety. By understanding the effects these have you can choose experiences wisely.

1 hour to complete

3 videos (Total 43 min)

3 videos

The News: Your Friend and Enemy10m

Crowding Out Anxiety Using Distractions14m

The Importance of Social Relations17m

1 practice exercise

End of Module Knowledge Check

Week

Week 3

1 hour to complete

Understanding and Managing the Effects of Isolation

Many if not most of us are not either quarantined or living in self-isolation. In this module I'll help students understand some of the psychological reactions they may have to isolation and, once again, how to manage ones emotional states to ultimately tolerate what is an unnatural way of living.

1 hour to complete

3 videos (Total 46 min)

3 videos

The Importance of Control17m

The Effects of Isolation11m

Strategies for Managing Isolation16m

1 practice exercise

Week Three Knowledge Check

Week

Week 4

9 minutes to complete

Summary

9 minutes to complete

1 video (Total 9 min)

1 video

Summary and Invitation8m

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes, Coursera provides financial aid to learners who cannot afford the fee. Apply for it by clicking on the Financial Aid link beneath the "Enroll" button on the left. You’ll be prompted to complete an application and will be notified if you are approved. Learn more.
Will I earn university credit for completing the Course?
This Course doesn't carry university credit, but some universities may choose to accept Course Certificates for credit. Check with your institution to learn more. Online Degrees and Mastertrack™ Certificates on Coursera provide the opportunity to earn university credit.

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Mind Control: Managing Your Mental Health During COVID-19

Mind Control: Managing Your Mental Health During COVID-19