So much change in such a short amount of time. That’s what I keep hearing from my clients. It has been the theme of all of our lives as we adjust to the spread of COVID 19. Here in Louisiana, schools closed, then dine-in restaurants. Then, we get the news that Louisiana has the fastest growth rate of Coronavirus cases in the WORLD. Then, a “Stay at Home” order put into place by our Governor leading to all non-essential businesses having to close their doors and limitations being put on things we can still do. All of a sudden, things we had become accustomed to and maybe even took for granted (material things, people, schedules, routines, paychecks) are no longer readily available and we are having to adjust every aspect of our lives.
We’ve had to adjust to different ways of doing things, some of which may push us out of our comfort zones. Here at SCS, we have moved from in-office face to face sessions with clients to Telehealth online video sessions. If you had asked me a month ago if I would be doing online therapy I would have laughed and said something about it not being very personal or effective. But since it was the only option I had to provide much needed counseling to my clients, I adapted. In fact, our whole team has rocked the transition and our clients have been very appreciative of our efforts to continue to support them through this. I’m so thankful we are still able to provide services in a safe and convenient way and I’m proud of our team for being willing to do something new and uncomfortable.
Despite the very present worry, anxiety, and stress, I am also seeing gratefulness, compassion, motivation, dedication, resiliency and personal growth. The pace of life has slowed down. We are not rushing from place to place, kids are completing their schoolwork at home and online in just a few hours a day, parents are working from home, families are eating more home cooked meals and spending more time together. I’ve noticed more people outdoors, getting exercise or just enjoying nature. Most people aren’t buying things they don’t need and many are helping those who don’t have basic necessities. We are learning what we can live without, and what we REALLY need, along with realizing how blessed we truly are. Our perspectives are changing. Maybe our values are changing too.
It’s okay to be worried and scared. People are sick and dying. Jobs are lost. Bills are unpaid. Relationships are strained. Things are uncertain. But we can focus on what is going well, what we are learning, how we are growing, and what we can control. We can control our attitudes, how we treat each other, and how we use our extra time. Spend more time with your spouse and children. Play games, go on walks, pray and read your Bible. Learn a new skill. Complete a household or craft project. Volunteer to help others. Be thankful for what you do have. Don’t be afraid or ashamed to ask for help. And whatever you do, don’t let fear be in control.
My hope and prayer is that after all of this is over and life goes back to “normal” that we don’t leave behind all of the good things that have come out of this. That we are more aware of other people’s struggles and needs. That we use our new skills to better our communities. That we are more appreciative of our healthcare workers, police and emergency personnel, teachers and faculty, and grocery and retail workers just to name a few. That we are healthy and rested and know the importance of self-care. That we maintain the closer attachments we have made with our spouses and children. That we re-evaluate our old “normal” and create a new and better way of life.
If you are having trouble adjusting or experiencing symptoms of anxiety/worry related to COVID 19, please contact us and we can schedule a confidential video session to help you address your concerns. We are here for you!