Unity Health Harris Finding Hope in the New Year Michelle Foshee is a wife, mother, dog lover, and Newport native who promotes Unity Health Harris Medical Center to improve the quality of health and well-being for the communities we serve through compassionate care. She is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and prior to joining Unity Health, she worked in sales and marketing in Little Rock. She challenges herself and others to be Health Centered – physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.
Joanna M. Ronnau, LPC / Behavioral Health Therapist Unity / Health - Clarity Health and Wellness What a start to the New Year! Most of us just spent the holidays making merry, reconnecting with others, and focusing on the important things in life. Now it’s the season where many reflect on what happened last year and look ahead to what this year can bring. Taking stock of our latest trip around the sun provides growth and a renewed sense of purpose which is important to our mental health and wellbeing. But to be honest, the past year, for many of us, was incredibly difficult, and the challenges continue into the New Year, requiring a lot out of each of us. We are all experiencing something called “collective grief”. It is a particular type of loss that can be difficult to put into words. Wishing things were different, longing for gatherings that can’t be, not being able to go and see loved ones, and desiring a sense of normalcy. The collective grief right now is present and sometimes feels immense and overwhelming. And whether you are there for a few moments or a few months, it’s tangible and has its impact. Many of us have been left with more questions than answers, and have been saying, “If only…” • “If only we weren’t having to deal with COVID” • “If only I could send my loved ones to school or work without worrying…” • “If only I hadn’t been laid off…” • “If only my loved one or I wasn’t at increased risk for illness…” • “If only more people would/wouldn’t (fill in the blank) …” These concerns fall into a wide range of controllables and uncontrollables. It’s real, and scary, frustrating and also exhausting. It can feel like we’re navigating blindly, not sure if the steps we take are the right ones. Even more alarming than the concerns themselves is the fact that feeling out of control can often lead down precarious paths. Fear can lead to out of character actions, or impact better judgment. People might make rash decisions or engage in destructive behaviors. They might take out their frustrations on a loved one or a stranger. They might have trouble concentrating or have their performance at work or home impaired. They might have a lot of mood swings. They might engage in behaviors to attempt to escape or numb out, which can include overuse of substances, video games, screen time, or any other thing to help make them “numb” from whatever they may be dealing with. Although most things in moderation are just fine, and in fact useful for maintaining one’s mental health and
well-being, many have been defaulting to using these breaks all too frequently and find it has impacted functioning in their relationships and responsibilities. Small issues become bigger problems the longer they are not attended to, and over time, have detrimental deficits on one’s mental, emotional, and even physical well-being. So, you might ask, “What do we do?” What do we do when faced with such challenging times and scary circumstances? We often turn to what we know, and when what we know can no longer serve us in a helpful way, we start seeking information about what additional knowledge might be out there that we haven’t yet accessed. During a recent Sunday service behind our church building, sitting around a fire in camp chairs spaced 6 feet or more apart, my pastor encouraged us to ask some different kinds of questions this year: • “What if things don’t go as badly as I fear?” • “What if I focus on doing the next right thing?” • “What if I learn a new skill, to help me or just for fun? • “What if I intentionally focus on being grateful?” • “What if I stop ignoring my needs?” • “What if I grow in spite of my circumstance?” Many of us continue to have a difficult time, and the truth is, it likely didn’t change instantly just because 2021 started. But the good news is, there are others in your family, friend group, faith group, church, and community that know what you’re going through, and that can be there for and with you. You don’t have to weather the storm alone. And perhaps the most important thing I want to convey is this: It is okay if you’re not okay, and that you are not alone in that experience. Some of us are dealing with the heavier grief from a lot of losses. From losing loved ones, homes, job loss, missing the school routine, to those feeling overwhelmed with a routine that leaves you no time to yourself. These losses of normalcy weigh heavily on our hearts. We have all been dealing with the collective loss of our time with others. The following proverb has been making the rounds on the internet recently from an unknown author that says, “We are not in the same boat, but simply in the same storm.” We are all facing this pandemic, yet we do not all have the same resources. If you are having difficulty, feeling like you could sink at any moment, and feel helpless and hopeless, I encourage you to keep going and I hope you can look around and see where you can find a place of safe haven, even if it’s just for a short time. If you are thriving, may you be of help and make a difference for others in your community who are having a harder time, answering distress calls where you’re able. Why do I bring this up, during a time of year that’s supposed to be hopeful? Because, truth and hope are the lighthouse for the soul and can guide you out of the storm to shore. Here are some helpful tips that I hope can assist you:
8 Bald Knob . Batesville . Bradford . Cave City . Melbourne . Mnt. View . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Sidney . Tuckerman
