Leaning In…Acknowledging the Hard Stuff During a Pandemic

Jan 18

A lot of conversations I’ve been having lately seem to bring up the same few things. We are all tired, lonely, and sick of acting like everything is going to be okay. Many of us have been dealing with day after day of intense emotions like anxiety, fear, loneliness, hopelessness, and political fatigue. This can zap your energy and leave you feeling exhausted and burnt out. Top that with caring for children, loved ones, and having little options for connecting with support networks and it’s probable that you might be at a place where you are over it. You’re worn out. Tired of living in this new normal and tired of constantly being on alert and not knowing what is going to happen next.

With all this, I’ve noticed in myself and those I’ve talked to that there’s a pressure to keep reminding ourselves that things will be fine soon and a pressure to have a positive attitude about it all. But, can this be more harmful than helpful? Stuffing down our feelings and trying and trying to believe that everything is great doesn’t actually change what is happening. So, what if we tried acknowledging that things aren’t normal right now, that we’re having bad days, that we’re sad about things we are missing or how things are different now than we expected—whatever it is you might be feeling, notice it. This doesn’t mean you have to get stuck there, emotions don’t typically last forever. Acknowledging how you’re feeling and leaning into it a little bit might give you the space you need to show yourself a little bit of kindness and use the strengths you already have to care for yourself.

We may not be at the end of the pandemic yet, but we know at some point things will be different than they are now. There is reason to have hope, but it’s okay if that doesn’t feel very real to you right now. Just be where you’re at. Take care of yourself the best you can with the emotions you are experiencing right now. Let go of some of the pressure to act like everything is great.

If you find yourself struggling with feelings of anxiety or depression that feel challenging for you to manage, don’t hesitate to reach out to your support networks, consider seeking professional support, or access a crisis line. You don’t have to do this alone.

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