COVID-19: How to Deal

These are strange times - COVID-19 wasn’t part of our vocabulary a few short months ago. 

Maybe you don’t see yourself as someone who would typically look for a therapist. But right now is different. The smaller stresses that were building up used to be manageable. Before the world changed. 

Before, you could go to the grocery store to pick up a thing or two and not worry about who was around you.

Now, you plan days, weeks even, in advance, hoping you remembered everything on your order.

Before, you could stop and chat with a neighbour without noticing how close you were standing.

Now, people eye you with suspicion if you’re outside of your own home.

The uncertainty. The news. The constant barrage of information and new rules and questions about how to stay safe and calm and productive and work and parent and maintain social connection while physically distancing yourself… It all feels like a lot. Because it is.

This level of stress goes beyond what we’re capable of dealing with on our own. It doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means all of humanity is dealing with something we’ve never dealt with before. And we’re not meant to do the hard things alone. 

So while we know all this is temporary, you also don’t have to stay in suffering.

REACHING OUT FOR SUPPORT IS OK.
SOMETIMES, IT’S NECESSARY.

If you’re already the anxious type, this pandemic might be throwing you completely off your game. The thing you feared, and told yourself was irrational to worry about, is actually happening.

Perhaps you’re stuck home by yourself. Or with your spouse and kids and the dog and expectations. So many expectations. Be alone. Parent. Homeschool. Work. Be productive. Do crafts. Bake your own bread. Stock up. Don’t hoard. Be informed. Don’t read too much news. Not too much screen time. But lessons are now online! 

Now is the time to work out! Eat healthy! Pick up a new hobby! Start a meditation practice! Do yoga! Look for the silver lining!

Like we said in the ‘90’s: As If!

It’s all so exhausting. It’s supposed to be exhausting. This is not how life is supposed to be. You are not doing it wrong.

Relationships will be strained. Kids will act up. You will feel tired and frustrated and lonely. And it’s all a normal reaction to completely abnormal circumstances.

Remind yourself that you are doing the best you can. You kids, your spouse - they are all doing the best they can.

SO WHILE WE CAN’T FIX THE SITUATION FOR YOU, WE CAN HELP YOU COPE.

We can help you get through to the other side. The anxiety might not go away, but we can help you do anxiety better. Feel more in control. That you have options. That there’s hope. That you can do this.