When will the Covid crisis ever end? The moving endgame of Covid.

 

Sudden fear of getting sick. That overwhelming sense of doom.  Will Covid ever be over? The moving ‘endgame’ of Covid.

Children watch us, parents, adults, teachers,  as we deal with the Covid crisis. Be a role model try to remain calm, positive, and acknowledge our feelings, provide the needed reassurance, and be safe. That is the best we can do as the endgame keeps changing.

How do we cope as the COVID-19 finish line keeps getting pushed back, the impact on our mental and physical health on us as adults, and for children?

It’s been over six months since the beginning of this Covid crisis, and the global impact from the pandemic continues to be far-reaching. Everyone is doing the best under these unprecedented events. Our government is working on providing the necessary assistance and guidance in the Covid protocol. Following the medical health professionals, advice has been challenging for some, and lockdowns and opening-up have created additional problems. Things change, business opportunities change, number of people at an event change. It can be frustrating, when will this end?

For most of this period I have been careful to maintain the social distancing, wearing a mask in stores and following the medical advice as to protocol in dealing with Covid.

Although there is an element of uncertainty, as we are all wearing a Covid target I never really felt the need to be ‘afraid’ until a few days ago when it was announced Thanksgiving was going to be a no-go, and maybe we could flatten the curve for Christmas. BANG reality check, this is the foreseen future? Everyone has a fear level.  Some are ambivalent about COVID and others hide at home.  It happened while driving to a speaking engagement. There was a sudden overwhelming sense of, ‘oh my gosh what happens if I get Covid?’  You know the feeling in your stomach when you lose control of your car on the ice. CRAP!  This sudden unexplained gut-wrenching fear was nearly a paralyzing experience.

The current Covid climate, and how we are dealing with it could last months possibly years. The confusion of changes and expectations as a society, and community and individually as the finish line seems to be getting farther and farther away.
We can become overwhelmed with this negative news, negative distractions, negative conversations.

I remember being faced with a daunting task while I was in training for the RCMP. One of the swimming classes we had to tread water for a certain period. As an experienced swimmer, this would be relatively easy. However, they added a 10-pound weight which had to be above the water for the entire timeline. Our instructor laughed that the girls would never be able to last for 10 minutes.  As our troops got into the water, very quickly those who were inexperienced and weaker swimmers dropped the weight.

While treading in the water and trying to keep the weight above my shoulders I realized holding it was going to be too difficult nearly,  impossible for my body size. It was exhausting sinking under the water, again and again, nearly choking, sputtering, desperately trying to not sink, hopelessly trying to maintain my two arms upholding the heavyweight. Sinking again under the water, struggling against the aching fatigue in my arm and shoulder. Thinking this not going to work!

I couldn’t change the weight but I could change how it was held using my shoulders to support/leverage my arm, alternating each arm across my body using it as support. As fatigue set in, change the position. Turning away from the rest of the people struggling in the water, I found a focus point on the wall and stared at it. I could hear the struggles, cursing, giggles, yelling from instructors but maintained a focus on that spot on the wall.  Once again I could not change my surroundings but what I could do is the focus, focus on something different. Focussing on success.  It seemed a lifetime of treading and struggling in the water and yet,  once I made the adjustments on how to change my perspective on holding the weight, change my perspective in what I was focussing on, The time went quickly.

The instructor whistled to indicate the completion and we could drop the weight and the test was over. Turning around to face the remainder of my troop mates noticed only a couple of people left in the water and I was the only woman.

The point of the story is although we cannot change what’s happening with the Covid crisis and the impact it has on our lives, stress for the many different relationships, home office work-life balance, schooling from home, attending class, we can change how we adjust to it.
This depends on how and what we focus on, the positive distractions we create, and want to have in our daily life that can help us feel less stressed, anxious, fearful, and helpless.

Acknowledging these feelings and choosing to ‘park it’ until after the speaking event allowed me to remain calm and present with passion and authenticity.  It is okay to park it with the understanding we have to deal with problems and emotions.  Knowing that these feelings would be addressed again. A positive distraction allows us to feel less panicky and vulnerable.

C – create self-care tools

O – optimism

V – validate our feelings

I – Introspection, examine your mental health

D – detach from negative news

This Thanksgiving getting together is no longer an option, so how do you celebrate without family and still find happiness and connections? It is only as limited as our imagination and attitude. For my family, we can share a meal via Zoom, FaceTime, or other uses of technology, and a few people in our ‘bubble’. Make a meal and drop it off to family while maintaining social distancing.  Prepare the food dish that reminds you of family specialties.  I like to make butter tarts and lemon pie to remember and celebrate my grandma. Gluten-Free dressing and vegetarian lasagna for my daughters who won’t be home.  It is the little things we do for our mental health and in keeping those connections.

We cannot change people or events but we can change is our attitude. A positive attitude gives us resilience in life. Be patient and compassionate with yourself, family, friends, and those who are struggling with restrictions of COVID. Everyone has a fear level.