Survival

Mental illness during a global pandemic is something I never had to imagine. In many ways, the “stay at home” order mirrors many aspects of my depressed and anxious lifestyle. Isolation, fear of leaving the house, major uncertainty about the future and what each day will bring.

I saw this tweet (above) and it resonated with me as I’m sure it does with many others. We’ve fought so hard to stay in a world that seems to be punishing us for that effort. We stayed in hopes things would get better, only to be met with something we could have never imagined. To those of us who have questioned our purpose, debated the worthiness of fighting through the constant pain, we are now facing another obstacle. Another bullet point on our “pros and cons” list. It’s very hard to keep perspective even when all is well in the world. Finding it now is akin to searching a deep darkness with a failing flashlight. You should expect to stumble, to fall, to lose the light altogether at times. But I’ll reference another quote I’ve seen recently- “The sun will rise, and we will try again.”

During all of this, those of us with mental illness need to be aware. Isolation exacerbates symptoms of depression, and with everything going on anxiety will be at an all time high. Pay attention to your symptoms. Pay attention to your coping mechanisms. Reach out for help if you need it.

The main message is this: It is a strange time for everyone. This global pandemic is something our brains have never had to cope with. Things may manifest themselves in weird ways. Be patient with yourself. Keep working through it. Celebrate the small things. Find hope wherever you can. Remember- Everything is temporary.