I’m drowning. It feels like the weight of the world is pressing down on my entire body and I can’t find the surface.
We are currently dealing with scary times. News of the Covid-19 pandemic is everywhere you look. It’s troubling, disturbing, heartbreaking…and downright scary. It’s extremely common for those of us who are recovering from a brain aneurysm rupture, or any type of traumatic brain injury to already deal with anxiety. I’ve been consuming news at an alarming rate and listening to the experts talk about the dire situation that we are facing. Not just here in this country, but around the globe.
I’m petrified. My PTSD has been awful. I’m so afraid that I’m going to have another rupture but there aren’t enough respirators because of Covid so the hospital has to let me die. Logically, I can say that this isn’t a valid fear and I’ll be okay. But you cannot reason with PTSD. You can’t just tell yourself to calm down and breathe and it will all go away. That’s not how anxiety and PTSD work. I can do the breathing exercises from my therapist to briefly calm me down, but it never quite disappears and frequently ends with me in tears.
Being in the middle of something like this can be debilitating for anyone…throw in the uncertainty of a brain injury and it can send you down a spiral. So how do we get through this without succumbing to anxiety, and ultimately depression? It’s tough, but it has to become an intentional focus. So let’s talk about how we can stay sane during these crazy times…while staying safe from the health risks.
Please remember to follow all the guidelines of the CDC and any orders given by your local, state, or national government when trying to determine activities to help you cope.
I’ve discovered that it is important to focus your mind and your body. Below are some items that I’ve come up with to help keep you from growing anxious while in quarantine. Let me know what you think and what ideas you have!
- Yoga – there are plenty of free yoga videos on YouTube that you can access. You don’t need special equipment to participate and it doesn’t take up much space
- Workout – there are a lot of companies releasing free workouts online. The YMCA released over 60 classes online…everything from boot camp to yoga classes
- Build a jigsaw puzzle – it will challenge your brain by forcing you to utilize spatial relations skills
- Color – I have always loved art and coloring was always a natural stress reliever during college. There is a whole new genre of adult coloring books filled with beautiful pictures and intricate details
- Go for a walk – if you are free to go outside, go to a park or just walk in your neighborhood (paying attention to social distancing rules). Also, National Parks have waived entrance fees so if you live near one you’ll have access for free
- Read a book – If you have a tablet, there are some great free online books. Your local library should have an ecatalog, and many universities have also opened up their libraries. A quick internet search should help find resources. If you struggle to read now (like me), audio books are an incredible option!
- Play board games with your family – If you are quarantined with your family, now is a great time to play some games! If you don’t have games, learn a card game if you have a deck at home!
- Cook – since we’re all quarantined and a lot of restaurants are closed, it would be a great time to expand your horizons and learn to cook! If you already know how to cook, try a new recipe
- Take a class – there are many universities who are offering free online classes or check with your library to see if they have Lynda for online classes
- Craft – Crafting is one of my favorite things to do. Whether I’m making floral arrangements, making wreaths, or refinishing furniture, it is my happy place to be creative. There are so many amazing ideas out on Pinterest if you are looking for ideas
- Video games – So many games are played online now and you can play against your friends
- Virtual Happy Hours – This is a great way to stay connected with your friends. You can set up a Google Hangouts or use FaceTime and a group of friends can stay quarantined, but share a drink and “hangout”
- Watch a movie – Now is a great time to catch up on some of those movies you have wanted to see but never seemed to have the time. This is a great option for those days where you just need an escape from reality
- Organize your closet – What better time to get rid of all of those things that you’ve been holding onto that you know need to be culled from the closet? Some of these items may even bring you some extra cash if you want to sell them on some of the online listing sites (remember to follow CDC guidelines…you may need to wait to list and sell items)
- Meditate – When you just can’t seem to cope anymore…meditate. Focus on your breathing and ground yourself.
Obviously, these are just a few suggestions of things you can do to occupy your time during this uncertainty. Remember, you are not alone. It is important to remember that just because social distancing is the order of the day, it does not mean that you need or should be isolated. It is important to stay in contact with your tribe. Being alone can add to the anxiety and depression so make sure you reach out to your people, and conversely, if you know someone who tends to suffer from depression, reach out to them because they may not reach out first. In today’s world of social networking, it’s easy to keep in contact with folks…utilize it. Don’t go silent.
I know these are dark times, but we can get through this. Practice social distancing, wash your hands frequently, use sanitizing wipes to clean (and throw them away…don’t flush), make sure you wash your clothes if you do have to go out, and stay active! We are all in this together and we can flatten the curve together! Pay attention to your thoughts and keep them positive. Focus on intentional positivity on a daily basis.
Tell me how you are coping with all of this. I’d love to hear from you!