So You Are In A Pandemic

2020. Just over three months in and here we are. What is clear is all of us are in some of state of shock as we attempt to adjust to the sheltering, job loss, isolation and uncertainty. As we continue forward, here are a few important tips to keep in mind:
 

1. You, along with everyone else, is experiencing this pandemic for the first time- Now is not the times for “shoulding” on ourselves and others. “I SHOULD be able to know the perfect thing to say to my kids, I SHOULDN’T feel this, I SHOULD be able to resist all of my quarantine snacks.” Everyone on earth is going through this for the first time together, more than likely doing the best they can with what they know. It is important for us to allow ourselves to feel the full spectrum of emotions that come up. There is a collective trauma happening and we all will cycle through many different emotions. 
2. Shaming will not get us far- People are creatures of herd, which means when one begins to panic, many begin to panic. While the behaviors of hoarding toilet paper (click here for a great interview with a psychologist who breaks down why, square by square) appear puzzling to some, people don’t usually make the most logical choices when in survival. People do strange things when in panic brain mode and will reach for whatever momentarily alleviates the discomfort of anxiety. Shaming those who are in fear and panic will only reinforce the “me against the world” message. Being calm (or giving the appearance of calm) addressing the primary emotion of fear and monitoring our own internal reactions is important in communicating with someone who is in full survival mode.
3. Time for So. Many. Activities.- We have all found ourselves with a bit more time on our hands. Now is a great time to start taking up journaling, drawing/painting for fun, or break out all those coloring books you promised yourself you would use 2 years ago. Please be aware of New Year Resolution Syndrome when you make too many large and lofty goals. We can likely plan on being anxious for the next while which movement based activities and creative arts will not only help to activate the parts of our brain that help us feel good, but will also be less stressful than trying to tackle learning a new language.  When we are in fear or in high stress, the learning parts of our brain start to shut down.
4. Humanity is one big reptilian brain-  We must continue to try to meet fear with compassion. Let’s face it- probably every single person on earth is have some sort of fight, flight or freeze autonomic reaction right now. Call it weird vibes, mass panic or co-dysregulation. We are biologically wiredto regulate as much or as little as the person next to us through our autonomic nervous system, mirror neurons, and facial expressions. We unconsciously replicate the facial expressions and body language of the person we are interacting with. When we see another person frown, scowl or have a blank face, we automatically interpret this as a possible danger and our nervous system becomes activated into fight or flight. A smile or calm expression can help your tired traumatized cashier at the store feel less anxious and help their own fight or flight system to be more regulated.
5. It’s important to stay connected- We can take measures to stay connected-  plus we all have something to talk about! Arrange for a time to call a friend or family member while out on a walk or at a specific time of day. Reach out to those friends who’s numbers you still have but lost touch throughout life.  Facetime allows multiple calls at once, arrange for a virtual dinner or coffee talk. We feel happiness when we feel connected to others. While we may be stuck inside for the foreseeable future, we still have access to connection and love.

 
And finally...
Here is a link to a website that will help you calculate how much T.P you actually need