IT’S OKAY NOT TO BE OKAY

There have been a lot of changes within the past few weeks. School closures, job closures, working from home, not working at all, teaching children at home, spread of COVID-19, and following the stay at home order. All of those things alone are a lot to process for many people. It is okay not to be okay with everything that is going on. Stress is normal. Stress is your body’s reaction to any change, demand, or threat. The stressors are the events that I named in the second sentence. Stress is how you are responding to those events. Are you finding yourself anxious or nervous? Are you living in fear that you or or your loved ones may come in contact with COVID-19? Maybe you are fearful of not paying your bills. Do you notice a decline in your energy? Are you struggling with staying at home? If you answered “yes”, then your are more than likely under stress. Take a death breath. Remember what I said earlier-stress is normal. This is something that no one has experienced before. No one knows what will happen next. We all know that we are to stay at home unless we are going out for essentials. The fear of the known (what will happen next) has made many feel anxious. It is okay. Take it day by day. If you are struggling, I would encourage you to seek help from a licensed mental health professional. A licensed mental health professional can assess you and teach you how to adjust and cope with the stressors.

If you do not feel like you need help from a licensed mental health professional, then that is okay as well. I am attaching a Daily Mental Health Tracker to utilize each day. Click here to download it. This tracker will help you be aware of your feelings and thoughts. Try doing it for a week to see if it will help you to manage your mental health. Remember that it is okay not to be okay. Make sure you are talking to someone (friend, family, or a loved one) and not isolating yourself during this time.