Photo by Sage Friedman on Unsplash
Everyone is tired. I think it’s safe to say that we live in a time that’s switching things up. “Normal” isn’t the right word anymore. I saw a post that said, “Relax. The world just needed to take a break.” I get the sentiment; this person was trying to be reassuring. That was a kind gesture.
But that was months ago. The further we get into this pandemic, the less I see this as a relaxing time.
What’s Going On?
Every day, the news gives us information about the virus reaching its peak. I won’t even bring up specifics, because I don’t want to bring any discomfort. I will say that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), offered insight into mentally coping with the pandemic. People are refusing to wear masks. This has become a political issue, and that shouldn’t be the case. We have all stepped into an unknown place.
Police brutality is in itself a pandemic that has the world’s attention again. The reality of it is that it won’t go away once the media starts covering it less. That takes a toll on mental health, especially for the Black community. Protests and efforts to raise money for organizations are reminding us of the work we need to do to make an equitable society for everyone. We need this support to alleviate racial disparities.
Opening Up
I am learning to be honest with others about my feelings. I’m worried about my family and friends. I don’t want anyone to get sick or get hurt. This worry isn’t new for me, but 2020 has exacerbated it. I’m lucky that my anxiety about the situation is fairly under control. It still lingers at the back of my mind: It’s dull, but it’s still very much there. And it’s okay to share that with people.
This time has pushed me to be reflective on my life and my mental health. My mental health has been pretty under control, luckily. I have reminded myself to be grateful, which is one of my most important values. I am safe and supported.
Personal Reflection
Sharing thoughts like these have been a challenge for me. I have put myself in a position where I need to be more open about my personal life. I am a journalist at heart. I’m on the sidelines for most things. I’ve spent the last few years as a bystander so I can stay true to my career. I don’t want to get involved in a lot of things so I don’t become biased. But as I’ve learned more about social justice issues in college, I’ve realized that there’s a time and place to be objective. Now is not the time and place.
My last weeks of college caused me to write about myself more during this pandemic. During that time, I studied my own mental state throughout those weeks and thought through how hard on myself I was. I wanted to be creative and constantly do productive things with my time, and I just couldn’t sometimes. Writing about that struggle allowed me to create a successful project and reflection.
As I look more closely at my mental health, I become more comfortable with being vulnerable. I share my thoughts and feelings with people who want to listen. It’s okay to share things with people sometimes.
I encourage you to do it too.
