“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” CS Lewis
When we are facing a crisis, the first thing that gets negatively affected is our mental wellbeing. This, ironically, is also the first thing that will help us endure and survive the same crisis.
In crisis mode, our brains instinctively reduce higher functioning that allows us to do long term planning, and instead shift our thought process to a primal, more immediate threat response. If these symptoms recur and persist, it diminishes the brain's ability to self-sooth. In the midst of our current COVID19 crisis, self-soothing is the one thing that we need more than ever. Recognizing crisis mode living is the first step to bringing balance to your thinking and your health.
Being able to counter-stimulate this with soothing, calming and effective problem solving; doing everything you can to turn on higher brain functions in order to access the parts of the brain that will guide you through this time.
It is important to remember that there are things that you can control and things that are completely out of your control.
Constantly worrying about those things will create an eruption of anxiety in your body, which directly affects your mental and physical health. Anxiety and stress can also affect your immune system, which can place you in a more vulnerable position when dealing with an infectious disease.
The impact of perpetual anxiety and stress severely affects one's ability to feel hopeful about the immediate but also long term future. Being in crisis mode makes it even more difficult to access the healthy parts of the brain.
Humanity has shown us hopefulness by reaching out to each other, we’ve shown hope in how we are trying to find creative ways to support each other and we’ve shown hope by engaging with each other in an empathic way.
Cultivating and practising a teachable skill like empathy, will take us a long way in our ability to self-sooth. Dr. Anthony Scioli explains that HOPE is a part of a person’s character or personality. You are not born with hope. Hope must be developed, like a set of muscles.
There are four kinds of hope and just like each muscle, each has a special purpose:
➔ Attachment Hope is used to build and keep trusting relationships, have a sense of connection to others, and have strong survival skills.
➔ Mastery Hope is used to become strong and successful, supported in your efforts, and inspired by good role models.
➔ Survival Hope is used to stay calm and find ways out of trouble or difficult situations. It allows you to manage your fears.
➔ Spiritual Hope is used to feel close to nature and all human beings and to draw extra strength and protection.
We are in this together, let’s stick together.
Extracted from: Voices of Youth
https://www.voicesofyouth.org/blog/coronavirus-and-mental-health-your-wellbeing-can-be-someone-elses-survival