It’s Okay not to be Okay
I haven’t been feeling great lately: not sick . . . just not quite right.
I’ve been feeling edgy . . . like I’m waiting for something bad to happen . . . like I’m waiting for another bad thing to happen . . . waiting for the proverbial “other shoe” to drop—that’s how I’ve been feeling.
I can’t remember the last time I woke up feeling well-rested and eager for a new day to begin.
I can’t remember the last time I had a really good laugh.
I’ve been having a hard time focusing on conversations because my mind always seems to be somewhere else.
Lately, when I walk out my front door, I get this nagging feeling that I’m forgetting something. I look down to be sure I have a mask with me, ready to put on if anyone gets near me. Surely the mask is what I’m afraid I’ve forgotten, but I can’t shake the feeling.
Several weeks ago, I was wandering around on YouTube, watching a few minutes of one video, then switching to another, just seeing what other videos came up. I happened upon a video of a woman with a great Scottish accent. She was a sturdy woman with a lovely, wise face. She was looking directly into the camera and she said something like this:
“If you aren’t feeling okay right now, don’t worry. It isn’t just you. These are hard times for everyone. We’re all feeling the strain. Trust me, it will be okay.”
I paraphrased her words here because I couldn’t find the video again, but I wish I could—I’d watch it over and over. Strangely, I felt as if she was speaking directly to me. She spoke with gentleness, but also with authority, and even though she was younger than I am, it was as if my mother was speaking to me.
After I heard her words, I felt so much better.
I’m still feeling all the things I was feeling before, but they aren’t worrying me now. I realize there’s nothing really wrong with me, I’m just responding to the extraordinarily difficult times we’re all living through.
And I know I’ll be okay.
If you have concerns about your own emotional health or that of a loved one, please take time to visit the CDC* website devoted to managing the stresses of life during the coronavirus pandemic. This site contains a wealth of valuable information, including a list of free resources. I encourage you to check it out.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html
* Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Photo by Tim Mossholder via Unsplash
