It’s been eight months since (almost) everyone has been masking, washing hands, social distancing and it’s still here and still spreading!
Still, Americans are resilient people. We’ve faced complete “lockdowns” by governing entities, which forced businesses to either change the way they provided their services or completely close their doors.
After the election of 2020, I thought the damn thing would go away. Okay, I’m probably being facetious right now but can you blame me?
I know we are all frustrated and tired of this whole fiasco. Especially those on the front lines and in the healthcare settings. It seems like the more they tell us to wear a mask, the worse it gets.
(NO I AM NOT GOING TO MAKE THIS A PERSONAL or POLITICAL STATEMENT)!
Now in some states the public health departments and the Governors along with some mayors, are mandating “stay at home”‘ orders again.
Some”conspiracy theories” believe that COVID-19 is being used as a cover-up for a certain military operation to take down the deep state swamp. Others believe that it was manufactured in Wuhan, China, and intentionally unleashed upon the world and The United States of America to try and end Donald J. Trumps Presidency.
In today’s Self Care Sundays series I want to address mental health for everyone. During this time across the world, mental health care should be addressed not just for those already with behavioral and mental health issues, but our first responders, healthcare professionals, grocery store workers, truck drivers and so many more.
Mental health is just as important as physical health. My biggest concern is for my fellow colleagues and what’s going to happen to their mental health when our hospitals are overrun with patients.
I found a great article by the CDC on stress and coping during this pandemic outbreak. As healthcare workers, we are constantly tending to the needs of others; while we tend to forget our own mental and physical health needs.
If you, or someone you care about, are feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression, or anxiety, or feel like you want to harm yourself or others call
911
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746. (TTY 1-800-846-8517)
Healthcare Workers
For healthcare workers, it’s quite natural to feel stress. Many relieve their stress with the form of dark humor. What most people may see as incentive, mean or despicable others find relief with humor.
Take care of your basic needs. Food, shelter, clothing and family. It’s important to remember that if you go down with illness it will affect more than just the people you work with.
Coping With Stress
It’s normal to feel sad, angry, confused or even scared during a crisis.
I wish anyone reading this health, safety and wellness. Please try not to panic over this war we have raging in the world. If we all do our part and work together we will get through this together.
Shortly after January 20, 2020 the first case of coronavirus found it’s way to the United States. A man in his 30’s was traveling from Wuhan, China to Washington was infected with the virus causing a domino effect nationwide.
It seems like just yesterday we went to work and although we were concerned about this illness, most of us didn’t really pay attention because it was happening away from our little bubble of the world.
Our favorite sports teams were playing from the National Hockey League, the National Basketball Association, even Major League Baseball was getting ready to start up for the 2020 season. The bottom of sports dropped when all these teams announced that they were suspending or pushing back the start of their scheduled seasons. I am pretty sure that my local sports broadcasters on Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 are going bonkers at this point! You can listen to all of them from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday through Friday.
On Monday March 16, 2020 my older grandchildren were in school, most of my family and friends were working without having any real major concern. Then as the coronavirus started to spread more rapidly across the United States, President Trump declared a national emergency on March 13, 2020.
Will Americans heart ever beatagain?
Yes, yes it will. We are a strong and resilient nation. We have been through much worse than this. Now is the time to build each other up, check on your neighbors and friends. Stop the insanity of hoarding all the toilet paper America! Think about your fellow human beings and work together in one accord to bring healing, compassion, and love for one another.
Our heartbeat is strong! If we can survive through world wars, many other infectious diseases that have wiped out previous generations. Most of all let’s not forget one of the most terrifying and horrific events to hit on American soil. On September 11, 2001, we were attacked by Islamic extremists which assaulted upon our way of life by using airplanes to crash into the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan, New York City.
America’s heartbeat stopped for a moment in time that very day. Those of us who watched in horror as our nation was under attack felt sadness, rage, depression and love for our fellow mankind.
We came out on top. We pushed through the sadness, anger and all of the other emotions we felt, to unite together and help each other during our time of need.
I’m issuing out this challenge to all my fellow Americans today. Stop the hate and start showing love. People are scared of the unknown, scared of loss of incomes, and many other things. Bring back the 2001 American spirit. We have lost our way from that day and now we find ourselves asking the same question over again, will American’s heart ever beat again?
Tell Your Heart To Beat Again by Danny Gokey is one of my favorite songs for a time such as this. Please take a listen and enjoy.
Let’s bring healing to each other even in the midst of this pandemic and heal our land together.
