We are dealing with a great deal right now. All the unknowns are creating feelings of fear, anxiety, insecurity, and so on. We might not be coping with the aftermath of a flood, or tornado, or wildfire, or hurricane, but we are still in a disaster. So here are a few coping ideas we have gleaned from our disaster response work.
First, this pandemic is not registered in our memory so we don’t know which response to pick; flight, fight, or freeze. Of course you know our bodies respond to stress this way, be reminded that these 3 responses are fueled 3 different hormones flooding into your body. And because we have no roadmap for coping with this pandemic and because we are constantly gathering new information we are continually in danger. Our bodies are now recycling through all three responses constantly. Fight may show up as anxiety or anger. Flight may show up as overexcitement or insecurity. Freeze may show up as depression or sadness or ambivalence. We become emotionally exhausted and when we get into an emotional desert we can’t help anyone.
So what do we do?
Take a step (or 2) back, breathe;
Search for awe and wonder;
Be in community – online, text, and that old phone call thing we used to do;
Discover and be creative – some journal, some paint, some listen or play music;
Find some laughs;
Practice beloved rituals;
Pet your comfort animal;
Eat regularly – yes you are carving carbs and chocolate but don’t forget your fruits and veggies;
Exercise;
Rest – naps are good, 2 a day is ok!
In other words, pamper yourself. Do not hold this in your body. Mindfulness, awareness of these response helps your body reset. Keeping all of you in prayer.
Your Conference Disaster Response Coordinators, Brice Hughes and Coral Parmenter