Coping Skills
Prior to the pandemic my ability to cope with overall stress and anxiety varied from day to day. I’ve developed many tools over the years that, when used regularly, are very effective in helping to manage my anxiety and fear.
……And then Covid came, and it felt like the world stopped. All of the things I used to worry about on a daily basis fell away. I was given a reprieve, a pause button on my daily worries. – Finances, Kids, Wife, Business etc.… Nothing seemed as stressful as it was pre-covid. Of course, I worried about the health of my family and friends, but once we were locked down at home it was like a spiritual experience. The manic existence and constant worry which was my life suddenly stopped.
Having dinner every night with the family, watching mindless TV around the clock (and not feeling guilty about it), and seeing my two teenage daughters suddenly relaxed was magical. Like many, I developed a peloton habit and of course played lots of Rummikub, a family favorite. Life was scary outside my home, but inside it felt calm, like I was given a reprieve and reset button and was finally able to pay attention to what matters most. For me that’s my family, their health emotionally, physically and spiritually.
Fast forward two years and I am painfully aware that the fear is beginning to creep back in. The worrying has picked up and suddenly I find myself worrying about things that are not in my control, mainly the future. I am no longer focused on the here and now. I feel more restless, irritable, and discontent. That appreciation for the little things during lockdown has disappeared and I’m finding it requires a lot more of me to get back to that place of acceptance and gratitude. Helping my girls navigate re-entry to their new “normal” with the worries and fears that come with being teenagers has resurfaced. And If I am not self-aware, I can find myself feeling cheated that I wasn’t able to hold onto the feelings I had when none of this seemed to matter much.
It takes daily conscious action and attention to remind myself how lucky I am. It is up to me to be vigilant and not let myself slip back to a state of constant worry mostly about things I have no control over. So remembering to be grateful, write a gratitude list if you need to, and sometimes just remain silent and listen to other people. The last one I say to myself often.
The pre/post-pandemic coping is just a glimpse into the inner working of my worrying mind.
I hope that by reading this you too can find a way to start understanding what worrying means in your life. I along with my girls will continue to share our family’s journey living the human experience that is LIFE- WORRY WELL people!!!
