How Are You Doing?

How are you doing?

No, really. How are you doing? I’d really like to know (you can reply if you’d like or just check in with yourself).

I know there’s a lot going on in the world as of late. You may be experiencing a myriad of emotions; anxiety, fear, outrage, confusion...

With all the noise out there: the breaking news every five minutes, the email updates from random companies, the chatter on social feeds, the constant conversations, it can feel like you’re drowning in a sea of information.

I’m with you.

Last night I almost sent myself into a panic. My husband and I were watching cartoons, trying to take in as much joy as we could, and I was not present.

I was making myself sick. 

I kept updating my Twitter feed, getting lost in threads, comparing information and trying to figure out how to protect myself and my loved ones from this illness.

I felt so out of control. Hearing about more cases didn’t make me feel better. It didn’t make me feel like I was in control of the situation, it made me feel the exact opposite.

Helpless.

This is a feeling no human being wants to feel. We want to be in control. We want to have a handle on everything, we want to decide our fate.

What I'm trying to come to terms with is that I can’t necessarily control what’s going on in the world. And that is a scary feeling. Even these measures of social distancing are only put in place with the hopes that things will improve.

What I’ve begun to do is to focus on what I can control.

I can choose to turn off the news for an hour and take a nap. I can watch Netflix to take my mind off of the fear. I can call my loved ones to not feel so isolated, and hopefully bring some joy to them. I can start a new project, or just rest.

Making these small decisions go a long way.

It’s okay to feel fear, sadness, longing, restlessness and anxiety. It’s natural. You’re human. Things are happening that we can’t control and we want solutions fast.

My hope is that you do what is best for you in this time to feel less isolated, panicked and fearful.

If you need to turn off your phone, do that.

If you tell your friends and family that you don’t want to hear about it anymore, do that.

If you want to sleep for the next 3 days, DO THAT.

As for me, I’ll be creating. I’m putting all of this fidgety, restless, cabin fever energy to use.

I’m also reading for fun, texting my friends, watching cartoons and Netflix and turning off the News.

Question:

What are some things you’re going to do for your mental well being? I'd love to hear about it.

Sending You Much Love and Joy,

Alecia