 Do not touch your face! Wash your hands if you do! Wash your hands if you don't! Don't forget to use hand sanitizer as often as possible! By this point, your nerves are frayed, and your hands chapped from all the handwashing and sanitizing. It has been a lot. Of course, that's nothing compared to those who have fallen ill, passed away, or 'recovered' with lasting effects. The two are related; we are confident we can prevent the last thing from occurring by doing the first things. It's undoubtedly an excellent way to mitigate the risk. The kids are at home, with many schools yet to return. A lot of people are working from home or laid off. We aren't meeting our friends and family in person. For a time, we wiped out the grocery shelves, and people were spending an hour in line in hopes of fulfilling their list. Life has changed in a series of big and small ways due to COVID-19. The only highlight of this is that everyone else is going through it, too. We are all going through this same tumultuous event, and we're all in it together. At least, we should be. There is nothing funny about a pandemic, but it's essential to stay grounded. As difficult as it seems, it's necessary to accept reality and not catastrophize about what hasn't yet happened. We all cope differently with horrible situations, and we all struggle with our locus of control. The Acceptance of Reality There are things you can do to wield control in this situation. Focus on those things to reduce your risk. Firstly, it's essential that you sleep well, eat well, and move often. Those are the basics of life that stand true in standard times and during a pandemic. It's also essential that you pay attention to social distancing. If you're allowed to have contact with others, then do so, but do it safely. That means wearing a mask, handwashing, and sanitizing often. A skosh of anxiety can be productive if it's causing you to take proper precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. If we didn't have a level of reasonable worry, then no one would take the appropriate measures to protect themselves and others. There is unproductive anxiety, too. Where you allow it to spin out of control by imagining what would happen if you caught it, or your child caught it, or someone you know caught it. It's happened to other people, so it's not ridiculous to imagine that someone close to you could see a highly contagious disease. You can counteract thoughts like that by focusing on the present. Remind yourself you are safe at home as you cook dinner, snuggle with your partner, play with your kids, or complete your workday. You can think about it all day, but it won't change anything, and it won't make you feel better. Staying Sane What began as a tragic story on the news has become a genuine threat to our world? In all likelihood, you know someone who COVID-19. If not, you have touched. By staying grounded, you are not minimizing the pandemic or sticking your head in the sand. You are simply taking the necessary steps to protect your mental health and stay sane. Think of all the efforts you have been taking to protect your physical health. Now think about what steps you have taken to protect your emotional and mental health? With that in mind, what are you going to do to ensure you stay grounded by accepting the reality of the pandemic while avoiding worrying about things that have not happened? Watch this Video 5 Reasons Why You Need to Stay Socially Connected While Being Physically Distant Because of COVID-19 If you are finding it difficult to accept everything amidst COVID, reach out for help! Let me help you get back on track and find peace again. We will work together to create goals for your future, identify what's important to you now, and come up with solutions for how to make those things happen. I am here for you every step of the way so that no matter what happens next, you'll be ready! Click the box below and let's get started... Book features this week:
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 "Do not touch your face!" "Wash your hands if you do! Wash your hands if you don't!" "Don't forget to use hand sanitizer as often as possible!" At this point, your nerves are frayed, and your hands have become so chapped from all the handwashing and sanitizing. We understand; it has been a lot. These practices, however, are nothing compared to those who have fallen ill, passed away, or those 'recovered' but are carrying life-long effects. The preventive practices and the outcomes are directly related because if we only stick to the "tiring" and "repetitive" methods, we can definitely prevent the latter thing from occurring. Amidst this health scare and worries about what else is to happen, it is undoubtedly an excellent way to mitigate the risks…
The kids are at home; many schools are yet to return to "normal;" many people are now working from home, or worse, laid off. We aren't meeting our friends and family in person. And for a time, the grocery shelves were wiped out, and we'd spend at least an hour in line in hopes of ticking our list complete. Life has changed- big and small- due to COVID-19. The only highlight of this pandemic is that everyone else is going through it, too. The same tumultuous event is affecting us all, and we're all in it together. At least, we should be. And because there is nothing funny about being in a pandemic, it's essential to stay grounded. Yes, the process of being "ok" is complex, but it's essential to accept reality and not catastrophize about what hasn't happened yet. We all cope differently with horrible situations, and we all struggle with our locus of control. Watch this video COVID and PTSD Tammy Flynn of the On-Air-Advocate and I had a discussion about PTSD and COVID. Accept Our Reality There are things you can do to wield control in this situation and focus on those to reduce the risk of being infected by the virus. It's crucial that you sleep well, eat well, and move often. These are the basics of life that can stand true through both the "normal" and pandemic times. Social distancing is also one preventive practice. If you must get physically near with other people, then do so, but do it with utmost safety. You can wear a mask, practice proper handwashing, and sanitize as often as you can. A skosh of anxiety can be productive if it's causing you to take proper precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. During a difficult worldwide circumstance like this, if we didn't have a reasonable worry level, no one would take the appropriate measures to protect themselves and others. Be Aware of Unproductive Anxiety Often, we allow ourselves to spin out of control by imagining what would happen if we catch it, our child in the situation, or even someone we see on the television. We understand that it's difficult to mask what we are feeling. The fact that it's happened to other people, it can happen to you or any of your loved ones, anytime also. We are not saying that it is vain to put yourself in this complex emotion; however, you can counter thoughts by focusing on your present. Remind yourself that you are safe at home as you cook dinner, snuggle with your partner, play with your kids, or complete your workday. You can think about it all day, but it won't change anything. It won't make you feel better. What began as a tragic story on the news has become a substantial real threat to our world. In all likelihood, you know someone who has been touched by COVID-19, if not you personally. By staying grounded, you are not only contributing to lowering the severity of the virus attacking the world; you are also doing yourself a favor of protecting your mental health. Are you able to accept the reality of the pandemic while not becoming unproductively anxious? What steps you have taken to protect your emotional and mental health during this challenging time? What are you going to do to make sure that you stay grounded? Hard questions to answer, right? I'd like to help. Let's get started today! Related Blog Posts:
 Isn't it incredible to think that just a few months ago, we'd never heard the term COVID-19? While coronaviruses have long existed, this coronavirus did not. That didn't stop it from transforming our entire world, though. Life has now changed beyond recognition, professionally and personally. Some people have been on lockdown all on their own, unable to see their loved ones at all. While others have been working from home surrounded by their family, regardless of your lockdown state of play, you have likely gone to extra effort to connect with the people you can't see. You may have stocked up on dry goods, hoping to ride it out without leaving the house. Perhaps you felt comfortable taking regular walks while masked. We have all had our paths to walk during COVID-19. Some people will have had a more challenging time. 1. Your Red Flags As well as knowing the red flags of cognitive and emotional overwhelm, you should get to know your red flags. Think about past stress you have experienced, whether it's been work or relationship-related. What type of event or situation triggers a feeling of overwhelm, and how can you manage that more efficiently? By getting to know yourself better, you will better understand your red flags and handle the load. 2. Know Your Brain You know how you react when you're in love. You know how your brain responds to stress. You recognize how your brain acts when you're anxious, fearful, excited, etc. Understanding your brain can help you manage your cognitive and emotional load. Your brain on stress will cloud your judgment. The positive chemicals that come with falling in love are as powerful as the stress chemicals that come with emphasis. You should know yourself well enough to recognize when even the slightest stress creeps in. Know the physical symptoms you experience when stressed outdo your palms grow sweaty, is there an eye twitch, do you itch, do you get a headache, are you experiencing acne breakouts, or are your bowels off-kilter? We all have our signs of stress, but knowing what they are will help you cope. 3. Abundance > Scarcity What type of mindset do you have? Do you believe there is enough for everyone or that you have to grab what you can to protect yourself? If you're the former, you likely bought what you need to stock up for COVID-19 lockdown. If you are the latter, you probably have enough toilet paper and bottled water to carry you midway through 2021. It might not sound like much, but with a scarcity mindset comes the idea that things are okay. Nothing will get better. That's not going to help you cope with a heavy emotional and cognitive load. 4. Listen to Your Body One of the most effective ways to manage distress is to identify the physical and emotional symptoms, as well as the thoughts you tend to experience before spiraling into overwhelm. If you are confused by whether you're coping with your load, then you have to listen to your body because it holds the clues to your truth. A body scan or check is a great daily tool to check in with yourself and get ahead of any red flags. It's easy. Simply sit quietly for a few moments, practice deep breathing, center yourself, and scan each area of your body. You can also ask specific questions about what you're dealing with to determine whether your body responds. Do you feel fearful? Are you tense or tight? Are you feeling struggling emotionally? You’re not alone. We all have our paths to walk during COVID-19, and some people will have had a more challenging time than others. If you are looking for someone to help you navigate the emotional toll of COVID, I can provide the support that you need! Let me be there for you when life gets tough so that together we can find new and more peaceful and enjoyable ways of living in this challenging world. Reach out today! Watch this Video Related Blog Posts
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