Those pandemic punches are cutting and bruising – physically, financially, emotionally and mentally. They’re all vulnerable spots that can leave us open to a knockout. But for my money, it’s all about the emotional/mental. So let’s get on to fighting – and winning…
You can pretty much avoid the virus if you adhere to social and hygiene protocols. But guess what? There are no ‘pretty much avoids’ when it comes to the emotional and mental punches.
Don’t know about you, but it’s my belief there’s still a lot of insecurity and fear floating around. And I think that’s especially so in the mood and anxiety disorder neck of the woods.
Yes?
Now, I’m not bringing you a rigid “X” number of ways to fight and win your particular emotional and mental pandemic battle bit. Nah, that could come off kind of dry and shallow.
Really, all I want to do is chat with you about what you may be experiencing and offer you some encouragement. And I’d like you to have something to identify with so you don’t feel weird and alone. I even tossed-in one of the poems from my eBook, Feelings & Rhymes Through Treacherous Times.
Works for you?
The Emotional & Mental Battle
I understand how important it is to emphasize the physical punches COVID-19 can deliver. No doubt about it, they can be lethal. And I understand how potentially dangerous the financial jabs are.
But what I don’t understand is why the emotional and mental battle doesn’t seem to deserve consistent headlines. If you ask me, it’s the most significant encounter of all. And it can be just as deadly as the physical threat.
I mean, look at it this way. You can pretty much avoid the virus if you adhere to social and hygiene protocols. But guess what? There are no “pretty much avoids” when it comes to the emotional and mental punches. And, of course, the very things we’re supposed to do to dodge the physical hits make the emotional and mental battle so much tougher.
How Are You Holding-Up?
“I’m not too sure about this, Bill.”
Now for the most important question of all. How are you holding-up emotionally and mentally through all this? Are you hanging in there? Maybe it’s a matter of the occasional rough episode. Perhaps you’re struggling way more often than not.
No doubt about it, this is hard.
By the way, when you’re in the midst of a rough go, have you developed some effective coping techniques you can pull out of your back-pocket? And do you truly understand that what we’re dealing with isn’t a permanent arrangement?
How ’bout this? Do you realize the story you get from the media – any of them – isn’t necessarily calmly-considered and factual? Never forget, the mission of the media is to attract readers, viewers, and listeners. Okay?
Just thought I’d toss-in a few questions (and an observation).
“I’ll Try Again”
You know, I’ve talked about fighting and winning the emotional and mental battle. Now that I think about it, I’m going to change that up a bit. “Winning” may not be the right goal. I mean, it comes off as an either/or proposition. Yes, either you win or you lose. And if you can’t perceptually win, you must be a loser when it comes to coping with the pandemic.
That just isn’t right. Would you agree?
So how ’bout we go with fighting and doing your best? Yeah, I’m more comfortable with that.
Okay, to wrap things up I’m sharing a poem I wrote many moons ago – amid my own jams. It’s my hope it’ll bring you inspiration and perspective. Lord knows I’ve turned to it many times over the years.
I’ll Try Again
Whenever life is
Hurt and pain
Vision’s blurred by
Bitter rain
It seems
All hope is surely gone
I tell myself
I must go on
At times I feel such
Deep despair
The burden more than I can bear
I can’t see past another day
But still I must prepare the way
In times of
Doubt and fainting heart
When from this world I’d choose to part
I know not what the answers are
I must believe they’re not too far
Whenever life has got me beat
Before I take the
Grand defeat
I’ll rise once more
Amid the rain
And swear to all
I’ll try again
You’ll make it through this, okay? So don’t you ever give-up.
As I said, that poem is one of many in my eBook. Please consider purchasing Feelings & Rhymes Through Treacherous Times.
Looking for more reading material? How ’bout hundreds of Chipur mood and anxiety disorder-related articles?
