We are hearing a lot these days: “It’s not what happens to you, but what you do with it that matters”. Challenges are faced by us each and every day and we have automatically been responding to challenges without even realizing how resilient we actually have been! We now, collectively, face the challenge of COVID-19 which is creating a new normal for all of us around the globe.
Research shows people tend to respond to stress as either a threat or a challenge. A person whose brain sees stress as a “threat” is likely to feel anxious and worried. The emotional brain goes into survival mode and wants to protect itself. That is very understandable, right? It can feel overwhelming, isolating, and difficult to accomplish day-to-day tasks. Conversely, a person who responds to stress as a “challenge” is more likely to feel secure and see opportunity in times of hardship. There is an ancient Chinese saying that says “Crisis Is An Opportunity For Growth.”
Resiliency is a person’s ability to ADAPT and respond to hardship as a challenge. Current challenges are presenting opportunities for all of us to try some different ways of coping. Some traits of resilience are emotional awareness, perseverance, what we call internal locus of control, optimism, knowing the value of social support, having a sense of humor, developing a perspective and spirituality.
Social Connection
Meaningful social connection is one of the most important effective coping mechanisms of a resilient person. We are all in this together. Having support from a peer is essential to our emotional well-being. Experts recommend finding one friend or family member you can check in with at least once every day. Try sharing one meaningful and one mundane update each day. The funny memes we have on social media are also a great way to have a perspective and a sense of humor!
Although many of us are physically separated from others, we can still connect through the phone and internet. Make use of FaceTime, Zoom, and other online platforms in which you can engage and see the faces of people you care about. Being able to see the facial expressions will warm up the heart and make the mirror neurons come alive. Mirror neuron system is the brain’s system that allows us to have empathy. Asking to receive support is just as important as giving support.
Take a Break and Take Care
Our brains respond fast to bits of information. We may feel the effects of exposure to stressful triggers whether we realize it or not. Notice how you react after seeing a bit of news, attending a long meeting, or a trip to the grocery store. What are the sensations in your body telling you? Taking breaks to de-stress throughout your day will help you become more resilient. Allow yourself to turn off the news for a few days and see how your body and emotional self will calm down. Fear is what has made us go and hoard so much toilet paper!
Practice Acceptance
It’s REALLY okay to feel the way you are feeling right now. There are no wrong or right feelings. Research tells us that noticing our emotions with an open and curious attitude helps us learn about ourselves and meet our own needs. It can also help us see more clearly what’s going on around us. Try practicing a short mindfulness exercise or journaling.
Have Fun
Most importantly, remember to have fun when you can. Pull out a board game, have a dance party, or do whatever it is that makes you happy. Celebrate your victories. Celebrate the creativity that has emerged from you in this time of distress, boredom and angst!
We shall prevail! This too shall pass!!
At Healthy Within, we are committed to supporting the emotional health of our community in this time of need. Healthy Within is an integrative brain health center, experienced in helping people re-engage in their wholeness and wellness. We help clients with anxiety, ADHD, PTSD, depression, concussions, OCD, stroke, dementia and more.
Contact us for more information about how we can help you get your mind back to functioning at its calm, confident self.
