Thoughts from Ingrid...

Another Side Effect of Covid-19Before I head into today’s article, I need to remind everyone that I am NOT a health care professional, nor am I licensed in any field. My writings stem from observation, opinion, and like the title of the website suggests – LIFE! And h-e-e-r-r-e we go!​

​There seems to be another side effect of this horrible virus, but no one seems to be talking about it or mentioning it. Could it be because it stems from the mental and emotional parts of a person instead of the physical? My last article suggested that there is such a thing as a “healthy” dose of panic, which would prompt us into survival mode. What I didn’t get into is: what happens when the “healthy” is by-passed and goes straight into a panic “attack”? “Nonsense!” you might say. “No one is silly enough to have panic ATTACKS over this” someone else might say. But . . . guess what? It’s not as far-fetched as is seems.

We are being bombarded by so many rules and restrictions like never before in our lifetime – whether you be senior or child or anything in-between. Services that we take for granted are being denied us – haircuts, massages, physical therapy, manicures and pedicures just to name a few. We are not allowed to dine out – not even in a food court. We are being asked to stay at home – some places actually have a “DO NOT GO OUT” order for residents. Where we in no way are restricted within small spaces, there can be a feeling of claustrophobia developing; a feeling of walls closing in on you so-to-speak. Feelings of slamming against those same invisible walls that seem like cages as you turn in circles trying to find a way free. These feelings are very real – and can be very scary. To most, these feelings might seem irrational, but to those who are experiencing the confusion, fear and anxiety they are very, VERY real.

If you’re apt to scoffingly shrug off these feelings, I urge you to blindfold yourself, tie your hands, spin around in circles and then once you stop, try walking a straight and calm line – still blindfolded and bound! The uncertainty and disorientation you feel will give you just a glimpse into what someone who is fighting the fear and panic of these unknown times might be feeling. It might be irrational but it is very real, very potent, and very unnerving. We are by nature a social people. Even so-called “homebodies” need the sound AND the touch of another life – whether human or pet. Sometimes you don’t realize how much until it is denied you. We’ve taken so much for granted and now that it’s been taken away from us, we are calculating losses that we never even imagined.

So, what do we do about it? You’ve heard it already. Reach out to people. Video chat with someone. Get a group together on ZOOM and have a good old-fashioned “kaffeeklatsch”. What’s to say you can’t go out for coffee with someone – over your computer? One of the most important things is actually a “DON’T”. DON’T belittle someone if they finally, hesitantly, open up and share their unease, fear, and/or panic. Remember that it’s very real to them, even if you have no idea what it feels like. Let them ramble on for a bit. Don’t criticize. Please. And before you laugh at what you perceive to be their silliness, just think of that something YOU might be feeling that others might not. We all have that little thing that might not seem so little to us. So, check in on a neighbour; lift up that archaic thing called a “telephone receiver” and touch someone that way. Learn how to connect virtually. Let’s see if we can help EVERYONE through this horrendous time, whether they are suffering physically, mentally OR emotionally.
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If you are someone who doesn’t have anyone to connect with, leave a comment. Believe it or not, there are people out there who are really alone – no family that cares about them; no friends to check on them; no neighbours to worry about. That, too, is a very real fact of life. If you’re a Christian, pray. Even if you aren’t a Christian, pray. Someone who will NEVER leave nor forsake you is our Heavenly Father. Pick up your Bible and get to know Him. Don’t have a Bible? Go online and search for Bible verses. Too cynical to even think of that? Leave a comment anyway. Connect that way. Remember! As alone as you may feel at this moment, there are others who are feeling the same way. Comfort is a universal word. We all need it at some point in our lives. Stay safe. Stay healthy. Stay strong.
Until next time,
Ingrid