We’re glad you found us.

As a psychotherapist I know too well the negative effects of prioritizing productivity over all else. Heck, as a human I know the negative effects of this and how it shows up in my own life. Although life has technically slowed down for some during this time –for many it hasn’t and for most of us it has meant a much more disorganized and hectic day to day. And yet, the pressures we continue to put on ourselves to be productive are alive and well.

Longing for the things the way they used to be? Find yourself wishfully thinking that you might wake up tomorrow and things will be “back to normal”, even though you are completely aware that’s impossible? Yearning for the physical touch of a loved one that you haven’t been able to hold for far too long? Ever catch yourself engrossed in something and completely forgetting about how different life is for just for a few seconds? Is there that heaviness in your chest or that knot in your stomach that never seems to go away? All of this is grief.

We’re all struggling to keep things as ‘normal’ as possible for our kids. But, how can we protect them through this crisis when there are things completely outside of our control? Dealing with uncertainty during this pandemic is challenging for most adults, never mind kids. But, there is a way to help our kids build resiliency during this time.

The good news is there’s a HUGE difference between social distancing and physical distancing. As someone who has worked from home for the last year, I’ve somewhat had to adapt myself to social distancing. The current situation has amplified this two-fold and I’ve realized that there are many things I could have been doing for the last year that would have helped me feel not so isolated. Here are some my tips…

It has been about three weeks now since the world has been put ‘on hold’. We’ve all been told to wash our hands, practice physical distancing while being socially connected, and self-isolate. We’re all doing our part for the sake of our physical health and to help ‘manage’ the COVID-19 virus but it’s hard and it feels scary to not know what’s coming next. Having to live through a global pandemic is something none of us has ever experienced or could have imagined.

Stress is present almost everywhere we look – at our dinner tables, in our workplaces, in our neighborhoods, in our extended families. There are so many unknowns and uncertainties and everyone is struggling to manage in their own way. Children and adults alike are struggling to manage the emotional and practical impact of the worldwide COVID-19 crisis. But there seem to be some key differences in the way that children and adults are coping. I’ve been paying close attention to the way my kids are dealing with our current situation and I’d like to share some of my observations with you.

It was just before March break when life as I knew it changed forever. I am fortunate enough not to have lost anyone to the virus and I am not a front line health care worker, or someone who has to juggle raising young children while working from home. I am just one person with an experience to share that I hope brings some measure of comfort to those who might be going through similar things.

How are you doing? We are all going through so much together in the midst of this global pandemic and yet we need to remember that we are all individuals with different needs, different struggles and different sore spots. Your relationship with YOU is how you’ll get through this.

For those who already struggle with anxiety, navigating potential global panic can be a difficult feat. This is where we need to be sure we look at the situation with a balanced perspective. Where do we begin?