Yup, after observing the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order for a little over two weeks, I have to admit that I’m going a bit stir crazy. The reality is that I have it pretty good. I have a nice home to stay in with my wife, who happens to be my best friend. We have all the food we need, and I can work from home providing counseling through telehealth services. I’m an introvert. What could be better? And yet, even with being an introvert, I find myself getting on my own nerves.
The reality is that this COVID-19 pandemic is stressful for all of us. Some of us are experiencing more stress than others. Maybe you’re an essential worker who doesn’t have the option to stay home. Maybe you’re a healthcare worker in direct contact with COVID patients. Does staying at home for you mean increased stress from family dysfunction and limited finances? At times like this, the coping skills we do have are pushed to their limits, and the things we usually wrestle with seem to get worse.
Nevertheless, there are some things that we can do to navigate through our challenges. First and foremost, we need to pray and ground ourselves in Christ. He is our ever present help in times of trouble. We can also pray Psalm 91 over ourselves and those we care about. Secondly, we can proactively engage in some activities that help us cope with the isolation and make social connections as safely as possible. Bessel van der Kolk, a leading trauma expert and the author of The Body Keeps the Score, shared some good coping skills in a recent podcast called Stirring Ourselves and Our Clients through New and Developing Traumas. Here are a few ideas to cope with the isolation and stress produced by the stay at home order and the pandemic:
Maintain a predictable, daily schedule. Wake up and get dressed at a specific time, and go to bed at a specific time. Maintain consistent work, dinner and activity times.
Take this opportunity to enjoy that book or Netflix series you’ve been wanting to see, or maybe work on a project that you’ve been putting off.
Arrange to be in contact with those who are important to you via Facebook Messenger, Facetime, or Zoom. Although you may not be able to be in the same location, you can enjoy conversation, eat dinner, play some games like charades or dice games, worship, or share projects while connected online.
In Michigan, we are allowed to exercise in our neighborhoods and city parks as long as we practice social distancing. Grab your cloth mask and hit the walking trails, a park, or your neighborhood sidewalk. Get outside, move, and enjoy the fresh air. Remember to maintain a social distance of at least six feet.
If you experience stress from family relationships, try to designate a private area in your home where you can agree to have personal quiet time, and take a break from engaging with others for a while.
We at Reconciliation Ministries want to be here for you. If you find yourself struggling and needing prayer or someone to process your anxiety with, call us at 586.739.5114 to set up a free telehealth consultation or prayer ministry session and explore options for your personal care. We’re in this together. Don't go through this alone.
