We will rise up - beyond the panic

I’m grateful for social media these days. It can still have its down side, but it closes the distance and allows us to remain in contact with family and friends when direct contact isn’t the best option. Whatever else we do or don’t know, having contact with others who care about you and support you is important. Now what? Let’s talk. Calmly. Even if you aren’t feeling calm, let’s give it a try. No politics. No hysteria. No hype.

My first job out of college, really even before graduating, was in healthcare. Since then, it’s where I’ve spent the better part of my professional life and where I am now. That’s saying something for a social worker as there are many ways to go with this degree. I respect healthcare deeply. It is imperfect, but what isn’t? Those working in this field are professional and committed to giving the best care they can. These are and will continue to be trying times for all of us. I would ask for your patience and support of all health care workers in these challenging times ahead. They will be asked to leave their families, work long hours and care for very ill people. And let’s face it, they do so with more uncertainty than usual. Even now with schools closed and children home, these medical teams (nurses, medical assistants, phlebotomists, X-ray technicians, social workers, housekeepers, security, pharmacists, registration clerks, advanced practitioners, physicians) will be at the ready 24/7 to assist those in need.

All that said, let’s cut to the chase. I respect your time. How do we move forward under such stressful circumstances?
We rise up beyond the panic. We do the self care we should have been doing all along. Wash your hands. Cover your mouth with your sleeve when you cough or sneeze. Maintain social distance. And, let’s try to find calm.

We rise above the temptation. It is so tempting to complain and blame. It doesn’t really serve a purpose, but like the virus, it is contagious. Find ways to be constructive. Be with the people you love. Not hard if you are home bound, is it? But, you might want to have a plan or you will get on each other’s nerves. Time outs away from each other will be good, no matter how big or small your home. Watching movies, listening to music and reading are all things that can be relaxing and a distraction from the news. It’s okay to be informed, but don’t inundate yourself. That is stressful and unnecessary. People have complained about the media and the hype. My experience and my truth is different. I think that considering the circumstances and how fast and at times inconsistent the information has been, the media has done their best. I watch different channels and read different print papers online. This story was like a very fast moving wildfire and very hard to keep up with it. I now limit what I listen to and read. I will listen to scientists/medical professionals. I listen when local authorities speak about any changes that may impact my community. And being in healthcare, I listen to my employer. Make sure you identify reliable sources. Don’t read or watch them all day long. It will only increase your stress which can impact your immune system.

We rise up, beyond our worst and perhaps at times most selfish instincts. If going to the grocery is challenging for us; how must it be for our most vulnerable citizens? Case in point. Rebecca Mehra, a young woman from Bend, Oregon shared her story this past week. As she headed into the grocery, she saw out of the corner of her eye, someone trying to get her attention. As she walked over, she found an elderly couple who had been sitting there for 45 minutes. They were fearful of going into the grocery as they had heard that due to their age, they were disproportionately at risk for the virus. They took a chance. They handed Rebecca, a total stranger, $100 and their grocery list. Rebecca agreed to help and returned with their groceries and change. Since she shared her story on Twitter, it went viral with over 11 million views. Others have stepped up to offer aid to their neighbors and are brainstorming on how they can help in their community. How can you help those who may be vulnerable and in need during this time?

We rise up beyond our daily anxiety and do good physical care and good emotional care. If you don’t already know how to meditate, learn. It takes so little time, but has enormous benefits on your total health. There is no down side to meditating. I have seen it change people’s lives; decreasing anxiety and depression as well as helping with sleep and chronic pain. I will share resources. The only reason it won’t work is if you don’t do it. There is good science that supports the many benefits you will get from it. Do yoga and/or other forms of stretching and exercise. You can do these things in your own home. Basic stretching and walking in place. Walking around the block. If you have a dog, take your dog. You will both benefit and you will still be honoring the social distance suggestion.

We will rise up to lend a helping hand. Just this morning I saw a heart warming story. Not really about the virus, but what a great message. On CBS Sunday Morning, we learn of a woman named Cathy from Sandy, Utah. Cathy has Multiple Sclerosis. She is restricted to a wheelchair and lives alone. She was looking at having to go to a nursing facility. Then, her neighbor stepped in with a list of 60 names of men from the neighborhood. Every night two men come over, lift her out of the wheelchair and put her in bed, making sure she’s comfortable and has her phone with her. In the morning her two sons and an aide come over. Naysayers and skeptics will wonder why she didn’t just go to a nursing facility. Or, why her family doesn’t do 24 hour care. They will miss the big picture and the gift these men have given Cathy by allowing her to remain in her own home, living independently. They will miss the lesson that these men would share of how it has changed them as well as helped a neighbor.

I grew up playing team sports. what I learned from that has stayed with me all these years. Team is being part of something bigger than yourself. That’s what Rebecca in Bend, Oregon has learned from helping an elderly couple get their groceries. It’s what those men know in Sandy, Utah from helping a neighbor be able to sleep in her own bed every night. And, in my own community, it’s what a restaurant knows and is doing. Lucille’s Bar-B-Que is offering free sack lunches to kids, no questions asked during this time that they are home due to their schools being closed. I hope you will see and be part of these acts of kindness in your community. It is a great way to cope with the pandemic we now face.

We will rise up beyond the panic. We will breathe. Calm, controlled breathing every day. We will control the things we can. Again, wash your hands. If you have to cough or sneeze, do it in your sleeve or a tissue. Then throw that tissue away immediately. Maintain social distance.
Now the hard stuff. Don’t hoard. Do you really need a pallet of disinfectant and toilet paper? No. Stocking up is one thing. Hoarding is another. Use good judgment. Be courteous. Please don’t yell and take your frustrations out on the check out/baggers at the grocery. They are doing their best and are not your enemy. Check on your neighbors; especially the elderly/ disabled. Also, as more nursing homes and extended care facilities restrict visitors these people will feel isolated and lonely. Need something to do? Sending cards/ letters to these people so they don’t feel forgotten would be a great way to spend a day. If you have a family member in the hospital or an extended care facility, let your friends know where they can send their well wishes. Food banks will continue. While you are braving the grocery, pick up a few extra canned goods and drop them off.
This will be a marathon, not a sprint. Pace yourself. You won’t be alone. We will come through this together better.
For those of Faith, I offer this in closing. You will notice it doesn’t say, unless there’s a national disaster. It says, Fear not!
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. ~Isaiah 41:10~

Resources for those interested: Apps-Calm. Breethe Headspace, Abide. Available on YouTube: Michael Sealey, Jon Kabat-Zinn. Google guided meditation-choose personal preference.

Many Blessings and Prayers,

Tammy