If someone would’ve told me five years ago that I would be content and peaceful for months living alone during a global pandemic, I wouldn’t have believed them! 

Five years ago, I was having a pretty hard time controlling my panic attacks. My insomnia got so severe that I had to take myself to the ER, and I had to take prescription meds nightly for about 5 years after that…

My intrusive thoughts were at the height of their persistence and severity (I thought I would be locked up for some of the thoughts I had running through my mind).  It was challenging for me to function, and I had very little hope that I could find my way back to any semblance of mental wellness. 

However, with time, therapy, dedication, practice, and spiritual development, I’ve reached a place where my core of inner peace is truly unshakable. 

I know that no matter how depressed or on-the-edge I’m feeling, there is a  surefire way to re-balance, re-calibrate, and re-center myself back to a state of calm and hopefulness.

 No matter what is going on in the world around me, I know that I have everything I need within me to remain well.  

So here are a few strategies and mindsets I’ve adopted to help me stay balanced during this pandemic:

1) I’m Cocooned, not Quarantined.

When a caterpillar is in the larvae stage, it crawls from leaf to leaf, nibbling, consuming whatever it can to gain strength.  It moves around freely, but it’s not functioning at its maximum potential.  To reach its full potential, the caterpillar must go through a metamorphosis stage in a cocoon. It needs that time to develop into the butterfly it was meant to be.

That’s exactly how I view this quarantine. 

When I was moving about freely pre-COVID, I didn’t have as much time to introspect and really evaluate where I was in life or where I wanted to go. 

I just moved about; working, running errands, wandering, nibbling away at life’s responsibilities.  But this time has really allowed me to focus on how I can improve my health, relationships, and social skills. And it’s allowed me to think more seriously about my life goals and where I want to be in the future. 

I’ve been consistently taking vitamins, cooking more than usual, increasing my water intake, and taking better care of my skin and hair. 

I’ve been reading self-help books, tuning into sermons and Bible studies, and creating daily “life-builder” agendas to help me stick to my self-improvement journey.

And…I’ve created this blog!!!

As long as we have to quarantine and practice social distancing, I’m going to be devising ways to improve myself so that when this chapter in our modern history comes to a close, I’ll re-emerge in the world as a beautiful, highly improved butterfly.

2) I Stay Away from the News

The news has a tendency to provoke fear, anger, shock, disbelief, and an overall sense of helplessness.

 I like to know what’s going on in the world, but watching the news for more than 30 minutes at a time has proven to be unhealthy for me.

In fact, the only time I had to revert to taking my meds to help me sleep this entire year was during coverage of the George Floyd riots/protests that came after a barrage of stories about new infections and increased death rates across the globe.

I stick to comedies, sitcoms, cartoons, nature and animal shows, and HGTV. I focus on what I have the ability to control, like making sure I wear my mask in public spaces, washing my hands frequently, and maintaining social distance.

I try to hold on to the positive facts:  social distancing and wearing masks have been proven to help prevent the virus’s spread. Also, as time goes on, the world will eventually have an effective vaccine.

This too shall pass!

3) I Manage Anxiety When it Arises

Feelings are not real. They can be intense, but they are not real. Every anxious episode, however mentally and physically distressing, is transient.  It’s vapor.

This has been my personal mantra throughout this quarantine. 

I have had a few intense panic attacks since we’ve been quarantined, and I’ve battled a few sleepless nights. It got a little scary, and I seriously worried if I would have to take myself to the hospital or get a new prescription filled.

But before I took a stance of complete resignation and powerlessness to the anxiety, I went back to the basics and implemented the strategies I’ve learned over the years. I went back to deep breathing in the midst of my panic episodes and describing an object in detail to refocus my attention.

I went back to incorporating healthy sleep habits to reset my circadian rhythm, taking baths with lavender Epsom salt, using guided sleep meditations, and eating the right foods at the right times.

 I evaluated the factors causing an increase in my anxiety and eliminated triggers like the news. I reached out to family and friends when I needed to. I prayed and kept focusing on my goals, confident in my ability to re-balance. 

And it worked.

4)  I Safely Get Out Every Now and Then

When the quarantine first started, I’ll admit that I took it literally.  The only time I left my apartment was to get my mail and pick up my Instacart orders. 

But there are ways to get out safely, even as winter approaches.

Now’s not the time to get packed into a bar. But it is the perfect time to visit some natural sights, walk nature trails, have picnics, go to botanical gardens, visit vineyards that practice social distancing, and take sight-seeing road trips with small groups of friends.

You may not want to be outside for long when winter peaks, but you can still visit museums and other socially distanced indoor attractions.   

5) I Understand God is in Control

Without hesitation, I can honestly say that being grounded in God through Jesus Christ is the strongest defense I have against anxiety and depression during this pandemic. 

I recently spoke to a childhood friend who was so perplexed by my sense of calm and confidence in God’s sovereignty. When I told her I thought everything would be ok, she asked: “Do you really believe that?” 

I answered her: “Yes. I really do.” I understand that God is in control and that I can rely on Him for strength and support no matter what happens. 

When I pray, I know He’s listening. When I’m confused, I know he will give me clarity.  When I’m hurt, I know He will give me comfort.  When I’m anxious, I know He will restore my peace and give me restful sleep.

I approach each day with gratitude, knowing that when I seek God, He will guide me along the best pathway for my life.  There’s no peace like having the assurance of God’s protection and guidance.

I hold Psalm 91 close to my heart, and I strive to make each day better than the previous one. The spirit of fear has no place in my home. 

Hopefully a few, if not all of these strategies helped you shift your mindset about being isolated. 

Times are tough, but I’m 100% confident that we WILL get through this.

Sincerely,

Alexia