It has been a tough start to 2021. Many of us have hit a brick wall; it seems of emotional exhaustion and finding it hard to bounce back.

I get it! It seems like since February 2020, we have been adjusting and compromising, finding ways to cope and socialize, and our endless spirit and resilience have been keeping us afloat. Yet, as 2021 set in and the promise of vaccines came forward, but the continued stress and angst did not lift our spirits.

Problems getting registered, vaccine shortages, news reports that put more doubt than faith in our health system persisted. Now, we are exhausted and want to break out and socialize.

This exhaustion comes with the burden of anxiety and sometimes depression. You are not alone if you are feeling this way. The year has been hard and social isolation has taken its toll on the human spirit. Additionally, if you have lost someone to Covid, had someone hospitalized for any period of time and weren’t able to visit, or if you yourself experienced Covid and lost your taste or smell, the stress and exhaustion hit deep. It makes perfect sense, don’t you think?

The good news there are three vaccines available to us. Once you can get an appointment and get vaccinated, you still must follow the original restrictions of mask-wearing, social distancing, and handwashing. Limiting exposure is recommended, as the virus and its variants are still amongst us. Not everyone is resistant to it—so becoming a carrier or transmitting the virus is a concern. We still want to socialize, and we can. We need to do it with caution and mindfully.

And how do you break the depression or anxiety you have acquired from the persistent stress of the past year? It is important to talk to someone. Expression of emotional distress is critical to mental and physical health. This is where a professional objective member of the health team is a valuable asset for you. One who understands where you are emotionally and without judgment listens and cares about your wellbeing and reinstatement of your joyfulness. This is the time to reach out to someone outside of your circle of friends and family. You need objectivity, kindness, and freedom to share your thoughts, emotions, fears, and hopes. If you fear meeting someone in person, you can most likely zoom or skype to express yourself and be heard. Do not push through this distress alone—we need each other, and we are in this together!

• While home, I would like to recommend some strategies as follows:
• Listen to music. Keep it playing in the background.
• Avoid television and the news. If you must watch television, view some comedy, or old movies from childhood.
• Think of a creative project to work on. Or, get a coloring book and color your heart and emotions into happiness.
• Practice deep breathing exercises three times a day, exercise daily for 10-15 minutes, twice a day, and take a short walk midday if you are fatigued.
• Call a friend, dance freely, and create a new dish in the kitchen.
• Recall happy moments, check out pictures in your photo album or storage box, and laugh.

These ideas are not rocket science, I know!  They will help you recuperate and heals low and steady. This will be behind us. Go forward with grace and peace.

Nameste.
Santa