Covid stress

[Mamatired]

I feel like my brain is fried. Everything keeps changing and is up and down. There are so many pressures to keep up and functioning to how things were before I had chronic pain and to before covid pandemic hit. I really want to just hit pause so much. There’s no time to relax and my ocd has me decluttering to distract from the stress but then I get so obsessed with the process and don’t know when to stop. I’m having a hard time.

[bytesized]

I remember I had a few nights when I was pretty depressed, and I had a lot of homework assignments due. I felt pretty stressed, worried, and it was really hard to get started. I ended up procrastinating, because I was so stressed about getting started, that it was hard to get started, which made me even more stressed.

Here's the thing: I've done hard things before, and I bet you've done hard things before too. We've both made it this far. What helped, is I took a breath, I sat myself down, made myself a list of things that needed to get done, and I got started. I didn't think about how much needed to be done, I just focused on the first thing on the list. The first assignment took some time, had some issues, but I got it done. Then, I did the next assignment. That was hard, but I managed to get it done. I kept on doing assignments on the list, until I finished everything, even though I had to stay up rather late to finish everything.

I'd say, the first step is to figure out what needs to be done. Break up everything into smaller pieces, smaller tasks, smaller assignments than trying to think about everything all at once. Then, you pick one, and do it. It's the story about how the journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step. You gotta try to focus on taking the first step, and then you'll be able to start solving the first problem, and then the next.

Of course, don't forget to take breaks when you need them.

You got this! Keep at it, and you'll get through this tough time.

Now you did say that you were pretty stressed about COVID. I would recommend minimizing the amount of time you spend on the news, and the internet. I got pretty stressed out at the beginning, and that's what I did to stop worrying so much.

Hope this helps

[Pinkie56]

You're having a hard time because it is a hard time. Suddenly our whole world turned upside down. We had to adjust to a "new normal". And now when it looks like we're almost out of it we will have to adjust to a "new new normal". There is no going back to the way it was. But I am grateful for delivery & pickup service. I'll never give that up. I will probably always wear a mask. I don't know. But I think I will feel safer that way & I'm sure I'm not alone so I won't feel like a freak in a mask. The biggest thing I'm getting out all this is the sense that the world is full of wonderful people. The human race has really stepped up to help each other. I find people are kinder, friendlier, more patient with each other. I hope that is something else we can keep in the new new normal.

[froggymom88]

Sending you a big hug. I think it is a good idea to tell yourself you are ok because words have power. If you tell someone a lie often enough ,they are apt to believe it. So go ahead and tell yourself you are ok because you are. It doesn't mean there aren't issues or things you need to change or work on. Try to think of the things you want to make improvements in and work on them one at a time. You are ok because you are beautifully, wonderfully made.