Coping with COVID
You've got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
And latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between
It’s catchy, but not a very effective mantra when it all comes down to it.
I’ve been noticing a lot of buzz on social media recently about maintaining a positive attitude in trying times, but what I like even more are all the people being really open and real about their emotions. Coronavirus has changed the world. We need to recognize the strong effect that has on our primitive brain, the part that never really evolved and houses our fight or flight response among other things.
The human brain evolved during a time when we were not the highest thing on the food chain. Early humans were hunted by wild animals, so fear was a part of everyday life. Over time we developed tools and weapons to fight the dangers of the world. We started making homes with doors to keep the wild things out. We made ourselves feel safe. Maslow (see below for a link to his hierarchy of needs) would argue that this feeling of relative safety allowed us to work on forming relationships and finding the time to think deep thoughts about our place in the universe (development of the limbic system).
Then suddenly, here we are, threatened by something beyond our control. There is a feeling that we are always in danger and our brains aren’t used to that anymore. It’s like the panic of being asked to remember the math you learned in high school times a million. Our collective brains are having a really hard time processing what is happening in the world right now which can cause a lot of symptoms associated with mental health issues:
Loss of sleep
Changes in eating patterns
Anger and frustration
Free floating anxiety or panic
Increased use of drugs and alcohol
About a million other things because everyone is different
So what do we do about it? All of these emotions are here for a reason. Fear and anger evolved over time just like anything else, they serve a purpose in keeping us safe. Fear tells us to be careful because something might hurt us. Unfortunately it doesn’t know what’s real and what’s not. So be careful about what information you’re taking in and how overwhelmed you’re feeling. Take some time to do something else, get away from the news and do some yoga or talk to a friend or take a walk. Let your brain know that the world outside isn’t actually on fire. Actively seek out positive information about what’s happening right now.
Anger wants change and it wants it NOW. Anger is a reaction to fear, it makes us feel like we’re in control of something. The people who are taking their anger to the government and demanding that businesses open up aren’t mad about their roots, they’re mad because they’re afraid and this is the only way they feel like they can take control. If you find that you’re angry or frustrated easily, be kind to yourself. Take a moment and ask yourself “what do I need changed right now?” Is it something you can do something about? Great! Do that! Is it something you don’t have control over? That sucks, take that anger and do something you do have control over! Write it all down, work in the garden, rant to a friend, get it out in the open and let some of that energy disperse.
Still struggling? Fair, you’re not alone. Seek some help. There are a lot of counselors out there (including myself) who are offering extended hours and decreased rates to help out people during this crisis. If you need help finding someone please feel free to contact me via email or phone.
This is overwhelming and weird, but it will pass and we will find a new normal.
P.S. All of this anxiety and stress also means that there’s a sharp increase in domestic violence concerns. Please feel free to contact me or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as explained by Simply Psychology https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html