Don't neglect your mental health in the pandemic

Submitted by Melissa Ooverton/MedicalTraining.me

How are you doing? No, really, how are you doing?

To say the least, the last 18 months have been a real challenge. As a nurse and business owner, I have watched as we have often struggled and fought to survive this pandemic.

Worse than the disease itself, we have all had to face a constant state of fear and doubt, and today we still don’t have all the answers and solutions. Looking around, we see a huge increase in mental health issues. As the pandemic shut down the world for a bit, those who depended on access to resources including health checks, AA meetings and substance abuse treatment were left with little to no support. People delayed health checkups and annual screenings which put them at higher risk for undiagnosed and undertreated conditions.

A new variant is now rearing its ugly head and here we go again! Without knowing what’s next, it’s completely normal to feel off balance and less tolerant.S

o, what are you doing to survive and continue to thrive amid a pandemic that has the potential to devastate our health, our mental wellbeing and our financial security?

I have decided to officially rebrand the word “self-care,” as many proud people think that it’s selfish and shows weakness to focus on it. From now on, I will refer to it as “self-preservation.” If we don’t focus on it now, we are setting ourselves up for devastation. What you do for yourself now is the key to survival and self-preservation, whether or not others are giving you what you need. Items often listed for survival are food/water, shelter and fuel/fire.

Self-preservation can be described the same way.

Shelter — Our mind is the most powerful tool that we have when it comes to survival. Mindset and focus are essential. When set properly, it allows people to overcome the unthinkable. To maintain this key source of survival, many rely on spirituality and a higher power. I challenge you to start each morning with intention via prayer/mediation/quiet time to express gratitude and awareness of all the things going right. Science has proven that starting with a positive attitude of gratitude for 30 days can leave lasting “happy chemical” impacts on us for months. Why not set yourself up for continual boosts by setting your mindset first thing in your day?

Food/water — What we take in directly impacts our wellness. Are we choosing the right foods and staying hydrated? When we have the right sustenance, our body functions better. Beyond food and water, who are the people that are feeding us? Are they sustaining our wellbeing with encouragement and collaboration? Or are they draining us of our resources and sucking the life out of us? If we are focused on self-preservation, we need to evaluate what we are taking in to ensure it’s to sustain and fulfill us. Whether it’s nutrition or people, having the right blend is key.

Fuel for the Fire — Fire can be used to illuminate for vision, warm the body and encourage circulation and healing — or to cook for sustenance. But no matter how you use it, it must be conserved and used wisely. How fast are you burning through your resources? Not knowing any better, when this all began, we worked at a breakneck pace to pivot. We relied on our “fight or flight” response to fuel us to adapt and overcome. Having never experienced a pandemic, we did not know that we would get exhausted when we couldn’t see an end in sight. To win the race, you must set the pace. This is a marathon and not a sprint, so pace yourself accordingly.

It’s overwhelming that we are all exhausted and that this isn’t over yet. Even the most resilient people I know are showing signs of fatigue and burnout. One of the hardest parts to face is the fact that life will continue to march on. There will be no pause to rest and recuperate, so it’s vital that we adjust our course to not only survive but to thrive.

For self-preservation to survive what’s next, I would like to challenge you to look at your resources. Do you have shelter (your mindset), food/water (your sustenance and people) and fire (your pace) which are the three things that you can’t live without? Do you have what you need? If you don’t, do you know where to find it? Also don’t forget to check on your loved ones, including the extroverts who always seem to be great! Self-isolation is a real issue as we see domestic violence, alcohol/substance abuse and self-harm on the rise.

If you were a diabetic, would you not see a doctor and use insulin to take care of yourself? There is nothing wrong with needing help. It takes courage to reach out for a lifeline.

A free local resource is the Johnston County Health Department’s Behavior Health Services. They have a crisis walk-in clinic Monday-Friday from 8-5, as well as appointments available for crisis counseling and medication management. Call 919-989-5500 to make your appointment or simply walk in if you need help now. After 5 p.m., call the Therapeutic Alternatives Mobile Crisis hotline at 877-626-1772.

I heard this quote by Eleanor Roosevelt at the beginning of the pandemic, and it sums it up.

“We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up ... discovering we have the strength to stare it down.”

Survival requires essential tools to navigate the unknown. We must not be afraid to use them or to seek them out so that they assist us one step at a time. Self-preservation is being wise enough to prepare for the worst to adapt and thrive. If you want to survive, you must be equipped. How will you prepare?

Melissa Overton is the founder of MedicalTraining.Me. To learn more, visit www.medicaltraining.me.