stability in the unknown of covid-19

There's a wide range of emotional responses that are totally valid in the face of so much change, and so much unknown.

The result of emotional overwhelm can feel like confusion and disconnection, and can make small decisions feel really big. Let's check in around some of the ways we can understand our emotional responses better.

1. What normally happens for you when faced with stress? What's your natural protective response? Fight, flight, or freeze? When do you notice this happening now?
2. What, if any, personal or familial associations with trauma, attachment or isolation might you have? Is this impacting how you feel right now?
3. We may handle acute vs sustained stress differently. What do you notice about how you feel emotionally and physically during a period of time without any immediate, in the moment, stress? Constant, lower level stress can also be depleting and be a sign for us to take some extra steps to take care of ourselves.

Learning to identify what's happening in our emotional responses helps us to respond to our needs and takes the power away from feelings that we may want to avoid or shove down.

We can demystify our feelings and take comfort in our ability to handle difficulty.

Plan to check in with yourself emotionally and physically in the morning, midday, and evening. Ask yourself what you need, how you can care for yourself, and identify any deeper reasons why you may be having the emotions that you are.

You absolutely are able to understand and take care of yourself, even when things feel overwhelming. Let's ground ourselves in this knowledge, take comfort in our connection to ourselves, and visualize the strength that we carry within us, always there when we need it.