
Coping with Anxieties.
It would be difficult to believe anyone who says he or she has had no feelings of anger, loneliness, isolation, anxiety, or sadness during this pandemic.
Many of us have experienced loss. The loss of a friend, a family member, a relationship, a job, a favorite pastime, or what life used to be like.
I’m speaking to you from a viewpoint of someone who had to brave the fears and anxieties of continuing to have to go to work every day, while others were told to stay safe and stay home. Although many of my actions and routines in life didn’t change much, many of my emotions throughout this time have, as I'm sure it has for many others as well.
Working remotely has its challenges as well -- the loss of seeing friends and family as much, loss of routine, and loss of feeling safe when venturing out into the world.
My point is, nothing about this pandemic has been easy for anyone, and the feelings that come with that are perfectly normal.
7 Stages of Grief
In experiencing grief, there are seven stages we typically go through:
1. Shock and Denial
2. Pain and Guilt
3. Anger and/or Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Upward Turn
6. Reconstruction
7. Acceptance and Hope
3 Strategies to Cope
These strategies include:
Journaling
Free-writing means writing what you are feeling or thinking. It can help you to problem solve and to help yourself think of situations in your life from another perspective.
Most of all, if you are struggling with ruminating thoughts, which are constant sometimes uncontrollable thoughts about fears and worries, journaling can help you to get those thoughts out. Journaling can even challenge the validity of those thoughts.
Taking Care of Physical Health
Choose to eat veggies and fruit more than candy to help your bodies regulate properly and for overall better health.
Keep a consistent sleep schedule, which is important for regulating your mood and body, as well as working through strong emotions.
Talking to a Trusted Person
Find a trusted person in your life who you can talk to without judgment, and who can provide you with empathy and understanding. This confidant will help you feel supported and less alone.
If you feel you do not have someone who can provide this type of support or have been struggling with difficult emotions for some time, then reach out to a professional for help.
You are Strong
I provided counseling services to smart, strong people who are successful in their careers and their personal lives. Feeling overwhelmed, depressed or anxious are common emotions. Get help early.




Let’s talk about holiday pressureIt seems like people fall into one of two groups when it comes to the holidays.
Either this is your favorite time of year or you really wish we could do away with the holidays all together from Thanksgiving on.
Maybe you don’t feel that extreme, but no matter what side of the holiday aisle you find yourself on, there is no question that this time of year comes with some pressure.Pressure to see familyPressure to travelPressure to purchase giftsPressure to decoratePressure to “feel” a certain way (jolly, merry, happy, excited, etc.
)Pressure to cook the best turkey or tofurkeyPressure to have a clean housePressure to take time off workThis pressure can cause us to get caught in some thinking traps that aren’t always the most helpful.
This type of thinking shows up when we are putting our experiences into extremes.
For example, “If my house isn’t perfectly clean and my turkey isn’t perfectly cooked then this Thanksgiving is going to stink!” When we experience this type of internal pressure to have it all together or nothing else matters, we set ourselves up to feel negatively.



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