Society puts a tremendous burden on women to “do it all” – to be the best possible spouses and mothers, all while advancing a career and managing a household. Even under the best of times, these expectations are sky-high. But when your world has shrunk in coronavirus self-quarantine, these burdens may feel uniquely intense. You may never have envisioned yourself as a teacher, only to find the responsibilities of homeschooling a kindergartener have fallen in your lap. Or, you may have loved ones who perform essential work, and you’re spending every spare moment worried about them. In these challenging times, it’s OK to be imperfect.
Allow Yourself to Grieve What You’ve Lost
People are feeling a wide range of complex emotions right now, and it’s accurate to classify some of them as grief. Losing our sense of normalcy and security – seemingly overnight – has led to anger, sadness, fear and anxiety. Many of us get overwhelmed wondering about what will come next. Will my family and I stay healthy? Do we have enough groceries to last another week in quarantine? How can I deal with this uncertainty? What happens if my partner or I lose our jobs?
If you haven’t let yourself process these feelings, set aside a few moments to stop what you’re doing, take a deep breath and accept that it’s OK to not have all the answers. As much as you may believe you have to be strong and keep it all together for your family, some days will be harder than others. You’re only human, and even in the best of circumstances, life can throw hurdles your way.
Forgive Yourself
Your life looks entirely different today than it did two months ago. If your family has been observing quarantine to stay safe and avoid transmission of COVID-19, you’ve had to create an entirely new structure for your days at home, all while experiencing the heightened stress associated with living through a global pandemic. If you’re feeling paralyzed by anxiety, forgive yourself. The sooner you embrace that imperfections are inevitable, the sooner you can move past the sticking points and get through this.
Ask for Help When You Need It
Even under normal circumstances, reaching out to others isn’t a sign of weakness – it’s an indication of wisdom. Everyone needs help occasionally, so get comfortable with the idea of asking for it. If you’re struggling to keep an even keel, and isolation is compounding your problems, explore online support resources or seek a therapist who offers counseling via telehealth. Don’t fall back on unhealthy coping mechanisms when these services are available to you.
Reframe Your Attitude
Positivity may be a scarce commodity in your life these days. If you’re finding it hard to put on a happy face, you may need to shift your mindset. For instance, instead of fretting that you and your family are isolating at home, be grateful that you have a safe place to live and a unique opportunity to bond with your loved ones. Or, rather than panicking that there’s no end in sight, reassure yourself that the world’s top researchers are working day and night to find a vaccine, and that in the meantime, you’re being responsible and taking steps to stay healthy.
Believe That Better Days Lie Ahead
We’re all taking the pandemic one day at a time. Nobody knows all the answers, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Once you realize no one is asking you to have it all under control, you can start to reframe your time in COVID-19 quarantine as an opportunity for grace, rather than a requirement for perfection.
At Canyon Crossing, we are still here for women who need qualified, gender-specific addiction treatment in these challenging times. To learn more about the steps we’ve taken to continue offering our services during coronavirus, contact us today.
