COVID-19 makes no place safe and thus the anxiety and worry, fear, and depression that comes along with it can become greater as it may feel that there is no place to hide. While our reality is not normal, our adverse, anxious and worried reaction to it is. In essence, we are grieving the loss of our normalcy. All of our responses are valid, as we are all different in personality, experiences, and demeanor. Some may respond with denial, enter into shock, react in anger, sadness, bargain, or respond with acceptance. These are the typical stages of grief and bereavement as defined by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross.

We may even be grieving the loss of moments that have yet to come. Anticipatory grief has been associated with heightened distress, medical complications, and pain. We may experience sadness, fear and anxiety, or a sense of impeding loss. These are also normal responses to stressors.

It may be helpful to remember difficult past experiences that we endured. In this way, we are able to cope better, hold a sense of agency, to know that we are and will continue to be okay. And we are able to remember what mattered most during those previous challenges, to focus on what is really important. We are able to recognize that relationships are crucial and that together we will get through this. We can accept that yes, we are all tired. Very tired. This experience is exhausting, but it shall pass. The above was written by: Shira R. Louria, PsyD

Social support is particularly helpful at this time as it helps to decrease the sense of isolation. Reach out to family and friends via Zoom, FaceTime or other such platforms. If you have a therapist, continue to see him or her via telemental health during this time, if at all possible or consider contacting a new therapist. Most insurances cover telemental health. Call your member services to verify.

VERMONT HOTLINES:
– United Way’s Vermont 211 Hotline: 2-1-1 or 1-866-652-4636 to access accurate and updated information about community resources in Vermont.
– Howard Center First Call: 24 hour, 7-day-per-week emergency service for anyone in
Chittenden County experiencing a crisis: 1-802-488-7777
(https://howardcenter.org/first-call-for-chittenden-county/)
– VT Crisis Text Line-text VT to 741741
– Vermont Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-228-7395
– Vermont Sexual Violence Hotline 1-800-489-7273

NATIONAL HOTLINES:
– National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233 TYY: 1-800-787-3224 or log onto
thehotline.org or text LOVEIS to 22522
– National Parent Helpline 1-855-427-2736
– National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-4673
– National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-(800) 273-TALK (8255)
– The Trevor LGBTQ Youth Helpline 1-866-488-7386