Living Post-Pandemic
As a clinical psychologist and yoga teacher, I have learned that a common focus of concern is our constantly changing post-pandemic world. Do we wear a mask? How do we know who is vaccinated and who is not? Do we vaccinate our children? What about the highly contagious delta variant? In Montgomery County, Maryland, where pandemic restrictions remained conservative and cautious, the restrictions were suddenly lifted, leaving many individuals and families confused and uncertain. You may be wondering, “when does anxiety become too much?”
Concerns about “returning to normal” is a healthy worry. In many communities, we were isolating at home for nearly 16 months. We are now expected to return to the office. Our kids are returning to school. Many people we know are traveling, eating in restaurants, and socializing publicly without a mask? For many of us, It feels strange to enter a public place without wearing a mask. Worry becomes excessive when it interferes with our activities of daily living such as going to work or school. When excessive, the anxiety and worry may manifest in physical and psychological symptoms such as feeling keyed up or on edge; irritability, fatigue, muscle tension, sleep disturbance, isolation and difficulty concentrating. You may find it difficult to control the worry. Ask yourself: Are my physical symptoms and feelings of anxiety beginning to impact my social relationships, my work or school? Am I consuming more alcohol, using elicit drugs to self medicate or engaging in other risky behaviors? If your symptoms are getting in the way of your daily life, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. If you have mental health insurance, your insurance provider can assist you in assessing a list of practitioners in your area. Many therapists are seeing clients virtually and in person. Google Psychology Today - they are a great resource when searching for a mental health practitioner.
You are more resilient than you think. Resilience is the ability to bounce back after adversity. What are other things you can do to relax, feel calm and achieve a sense of well being? The list below is a friendly reminder of activities - many taken from people who live in the Blue Zones (5 places in the world where people live longer and healthier lives) and share the following life style choices:
Get 7-8 hours of sleep: Your body and mind recharge during sleep. Getting 7-8 hours of restful sleep is so important for functioning at our best. Getting 7-8 hours of restful sleep helps with mood stability, responding versus reacting, focus and concentration and decision making.
Eat mostly a plant based diet rich is protein and healthy fats. Drink at least 8 glasses of water each day. Stay away from refined sugar and processed foods.
Move your body: Movement is like miracle grow for the brain. People living in the Blue Zones do not have a daily exercise schedule. Rather, they incorporate movement into their daily lives. Walking and riding their bikes. Gardening, which is showing to produce sensations in the mind and body similar to yoga and meditation. Take the stairs rather than the elevator when you can. Park your car further away from the entrance of the store.
Have a purpose in your life: A life’s purpose is what gets us up and going every day, no matter what is happening in our lives. This is another characteristic of people living in the Blue Zones. No matter their age, people have a role or purpose in their families and their communities.
Put family first: Research has shown that people who have regular, positive interaction with their family members tend to live longer and healthier lives.
Have a strong social network: As humans, we are hardwired to be with other people. Even if we are shy and introverted, we need to be around other people. People living in the Blue Zones have strong social networks of friends and family. It is important to laugh with others. Being part of a community is important for resilience. We are not born resilient - it is a characteristic or trait that we can develop throughout our lives.
Take time out to rest, relax and engage in enjoyable activities. Take time from your daily tasks, to engage in activities/hobbies that you enjoy. Have fun - find ways to experience joy in your life.