The Balanced Life, Huntsville Alabama

Now more than ever, people of various backgrounds and cultures are coming together because we all have been affected by COVID-19 in some way or another.  One thing I know for sure, life certainly hasn’t stopped because of our current pandemic. 

Some of you may have been uniquely impacted because of unforeseen circumstances during the pandemic. A bit of self-disclosure, I have had several of my close friends and family to suffer significant losses or have had a loved one to be hospitalized, and I, too have an immediate family member battling a serious illness during this pandemic.  Because of this, I have seen my loved ones grieve and try to cope in unconventional ways.  Furthermore, abiding by mandates to stay home, many loved ones feel helpless during these times. 

When you watch the news (in moderation I hope), the headlines tend to focus on the same storyline- COVID-19 statistics and how everyone is adjusting to self-quarantine and stay-at-home regulations.  What about the family member who couldn’t go into the ER with their wife, mom, or sister even though she was in excruciating pain and needed more than medical support?  How about the person who lost a close family member or friend in death and couldn’t attend their memorial service?  How distressing for the wife who had to immediately bury her husband who succumbed to the coronavirus.

Mental health professional aside, I have personally seen that many are faced with increasing symptoms of anxiety and depression because of the effects surrounding our current circumstances.  If you or a loved one can relate, I assure you that you can effectively cope.  Here’s how.

• Know that you’re not alone.  Having a sense of community is tantamount when facing tough times under such circumstances as a pandemic.  Therefore, connect and connect often with family and friends via phone, web, and even old-fashioned snail mail.  I’ve FaceTimed, Google Duoed (not a word), and Zoomed more times than I can count in the past month.
• Practice giving.  It has been proven that giving brings happiness- twofold.  Small expressions of giving can include comforting the bereaved, sending an upbuilding text or email, sending a thoughtful gift, or doing a kind deed such as running an errand for someone who can’t otherwise get out of their home.  I recently finished "Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens, and the character Kya expressed that “most of her life, she’d been denied the joy of giving gifts, a deprivation few understand.”  This speaks to giving being an integral way to fill a void and satisfy a human need.
• Practice gratitude.  When it feels as if the odds are against you, it can be difficult to see beyond your troubles.  Try this.  At the beginning or end of each day for one week, write or recite three things for which you are grateful.  Don’t overthink it, and these things can range from the most significant to something as simple as being grateful that your toddler took a 2 hour nap.  
• Engage in regular self-care.  I focus on self-care at some point in the therapeutic process with all of my clients- male, female, adult, and child alike.  Why?  Simple- because it works.  I don’t have to go into a long spill about self-care because I’m sure you’ve seen and/or heard about it enough already.  I will say to keep it simple to avoid adding undue anxiety and engage in healthy things that you know will help you refresh and reset.

Because of the simple fact that life does indeed go on despite our trials, it is sufficient for us to put into practice the things aforementioned as well as other things such as maintaining or starting a spiritual routine to help us limit or avoid debilitating symptoms of anxiety and depression.  If it seems that your trials have become unbearable, and you need further assistance, I, as well as my colleagues at The Balanced Life are here to help.  We can be reached at (256) 258-7777 or via our website at www.thebalancedlifellc.com.