Quarantined: Where Does Easter Fit into All of This?
Dr. Rick’s April 2020 Newsletter
| Is there a blessing somewhere in this? “How do I cope with feeling stuck?” “I have all of this time yet I cannot get anything done. Why is that?” What a crazy couple of weeks it has been. At this point, we’re all feeling the personal effects of this global pandemic — with lifestyles upended, jobs lost, and the growing threat of this virus to the most vulnerable around us. Where do we turn amidst so much suffering and confusion? This corona virus scare has really put a lot of stress on the world. It has also created stress, uncertainty, depression, and anxiety among many of us. Peace is something that we long for every day. In a world where joy is not easy to come by, peace is exactly what we need most. Peace can break through the pain and uncertainty. It gives us glimpses of hope and inspires us to move forward with purpose. The Old Testament prophet Isaiah called Him the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). The only peace, real peace, is found in Jesus. This peace cannot be offered by man. Though it is the ideal of a nation, peace cannot be found in the Republican or the Democrat, in policy-making, the Supreme Court, or Congress. This peace is only found when a world and people allow God to be a part of their lives. What is perfect peace? The word “perfect” literally means “peace”. It’s not enough for God to keep you in peace, but He wants you to have double peace! Furthermore, God has appointed walls around you for your protection (Isaiah 26:1). For the month of April, take this challenge and turn it into an opportunity to finally do some of those things on your: to do list”. Now, that you do have some time. Here are some ways to manage life while being quarantined: Let your creativity thrive: When control and routine go out the window there can be a renewed perspective on life. Setting the boundary: Setting boundaries and making sure that family respects the boundary is important. There are many ways to do that. Focus on strengths: Even though you may not have a lot of faith in certain family members, try to see their good sides and their strengths. Identify clear roles: Make sure that you identify the roles that are being played in the family. For example, you may have an organizer in the family or a controller who needs to have things set up a certain way. Instead of you also taking up that role try another role to keep the peace. You’ve heard it said… “Bloom Where You’re Quarantined” When things come at you – phone calls, wants from others, a fevered pace – try to get a sense of a buffer between you and them. Slow things down and breathe. Embrace this gift of time – time to figure out what is really a priority, and what really needs to get done. Be easier on yourself. Lower your standards a bit. Unless you’re doing brain surgery or something similar, you can likely afford to lighten up a little.Be realistic about how long things really take. Try not to make commitments that will be hard to fulfill. It could be helpful to make a priority list. Most importantly do the best you can with this “new normal” we find ourselves in and make the most out of the extra time many of us now have. |
Quiz: How Well Do You Care for Yourself During Difficult Times?
We all go through challenging times at various points in life—whether it’s a corona virus, the end of a relationship, job loss, financial difficulties or the death of a loved one. To cope with such difficult times, self-care is vital but, too often, we are hard on ourselves instead.
Answer these true/false questions to discover how well you support yourself during difficult times.
True or False?
Set 1
1. Although it doesn’t really help, when I’m facing something difficult, I often self-soothe by over-indulging in food and alcohol.
2. During tough times, I get caught up in “putting out fires,” and self-care goes out the window.
3. It’s easy for me to mentally spin out of control with worry and worst-case scenario thinking.
4. I can’t face my friends and family when things aren’t going well; I tend to isolate.
5. Shame and blame take over when I’m facing a difficult situation; I either feel it’s my fault or someone else’s.
6. During hard times, I get scared and feel immobilized and depressed.
7. I can’t understand why bad things happen to good people; it’s not fair.
8. In the midst of bad times, I lose perspective and have a hard time trusting that things will get better.
Set 2
1. No matter what’s going on, I’m committed to staying on track with my self-care routines.
2. Caring for myself includes asking for and receiving support from people who love and care about me.
3. I share my feelings and what’s going on with people I trust.
4. I have tools to help keep myself positively focused.
5.No matter how intense the situation, I take the time to do things that make me feel better, such as working out, getting a massage, spending time in nature.
6. I surround myself with supportive people and uplifting materials.
7. When times are tough, I look for any deeper or broader meaning behind the outer circumstances. That helps me keep the situation in perspective and even use it for my own psychological growth.
8. I trust myself to be able to handle whatever comes my way.
If you answered true more often in Set 1 and false more often in Set 2, you may wish to get more support around caring for yourself. Please call if you’d like assistance in exploring this further.