Spending time cooped up behind closed doors is a minor inconvenience if it helps limit the spread of Covid-19.

For those fortunate enough to be able to work from home, a period of isolation and social distancing may also offer a welcome change of scenery from the monotony of office life.

However, the reality of full-time work from the living room while looking after children can put a strain on even the strongest relationships, especially against an unprecedented backdrop of uncertainty.

But, in a bid to prevent potential problems, Solstice, a holistic wellness centre in Hamilton, will broadcast a free webinar called “Isolated with you: Finding ways to maintain relationships during isolation and quarantine” from 11am today.

The session, hosted by Gordon Johnson, from Solstice, will feature consultants Miriam Shaya-King, a couples therapist, and her husband Robert King, a relationship coach.

The purpose of the webinar is to allow partners to share problems they are facing during these testing times and the experts will recommend ways to cope with anxiety and stress.

Ms Shaya-King said: “We are looking to find out what the participants want to talk about and what their concerns are.

“We will be giving them some tools to deal with stress and anxiety during this time, as well as everything else that arises during the session.

“Our hope is that through this people will have a resource and a support system. If there’s an interest we will look to continue to operate this for a couple of weeks so that there’s support for people in the community.”

Ms Shaya-King added: “If there are unresolved issues in relationships they can potentially spark more challenges, especially depending on how close in proximity the partners are.

“If you have a large house you might have better luck, but for those living in a one bedroom or two-bedroom home, and depending on how many people are in the home, there can definitely be some great challenges.

“What normally happens under conditions like this is that people can be quite critical and point out negativity. It’s about waking up in the morning and downloading an app, trying to stay positive and creating a routine.”

Some couples may have the added responsibility of toddlers who need to be entertained or children who require homeschooling, as well financial pressures on those in at-risk industries.

Ms Shaya-King said: “Suddenly these children are at home 24/7 and depending on the age of the children, they will need constant entertaining.

“Everybody is under the same roof and there’s no break for anybody.

“We’re also hearing every day that people are losing their jobs in the hospitality fields or certain stores.

“Those people could be impacted more than those working in reinsurance who will likely still be in jobs. That’s going to bring a lot of fear and anxiety.”

Ms Shaya-King said searching for a good side amid the gloom of the coronavirus crisis could be difficult — although she insisted that every cloud could have a silver lining.

She added: “This does offer an opportunity to do more activities together compared to other times when we’re so busy and outside of our homes.

“We’re noticing that there are more families out on the trails riding bicycles together, for as long as it’s permitted, of course.

“I really think it’s a great time to bond and create a new family — a newer, healthier version for everybody.”

Mr King said there had to be a level of acceptance to navigate the potential pitfalls that could come with isolation and social distancing.

He added: “People have normal conflict patterns in communicating with each other. Those patterns of conflict are going to become more intent because literally there’s no way to escape.

“Unlike a hurricane, which could last for a couple of days in terms of the prior preparation, the actual storm and then the aftermath clean-up, these are essentially wartime measures — it is a chronic situation.

“It’s about accepting the fact that we don’t have control over this; however, we do have to accept that we have to follow rules that are there for our health and safety, and the health and safety of our community. It’s about changing, accepting, letting go and getting on with it.”

Mr King said people should try to stay calm and avoid becoming obsessed with hysterical social media posts.

He added: “People are losing their nut over Covid-19 and they are getting oversaturated with bad news during this crisis.

“It’s getting exacerbated by false information.”

To register, e-mail Gordon@solstice.bm

For more details visit www.solstice.bm or call 292-3456.