Driven crazy by the coronavirus? Here are tips for restoring your sanity

Many of us are going a little nuts now.

OK, more than a little nuts.

Four months after COVID-19 beset the land, we’re bone weary of social distancing, wearing masks and wrestling with an uncertain future. We’re sick of massive unemployment and politicians using the crisis for one-upmanship.

Plus, the pandemic is getting ever worse in the United States, even as other nations seem to have controlled it.

The stress is wearing us down.

My sister told me the worst part for her is watching friends she knows to be otherwise decent, reasonable people turn into surly, irrational crackpots who post loony things on social media and rage at anyone who disagrees.

For me, the hardest part is trying to lead a congregation through this.

I’ve got parishioners who feel, as do I, that this is still not the time to reopen our church’s doors for on-site worship, since the coronavirus is continuing to spread wildly. I’ve got other parishioners who feel adamantly that we need to get back to normal, or as near to normal as we can. Some say open, some say close.

I know that if we don’t reopen, church members will lose interest and perhaps even faith. They may drift away. But if we do reopen, someone could die. Either way, it’s on me. This makes for sleepless nights. There’s no good choice, only the least bad choice.

You’ve got your own stressors.

Your kids are bouncing off the walls. You’re at high risk for COVID-19 complications, but your boss insists you to return to the office. Your unemployed husband has been drunk on the sofa since March. You’re terrified for your elderly mom because your idiot cousin keeps dropping in to see her and then sits nine inches from Mom’s face, maskless, coughing.

I’ve searched the internet and my own experiences for tips on how to cope right now without killing somebody—or yourself. Try these:

Try to quit obsessing. (Yes, easier said than done.) Avoid rumors, speculations and the people or web sites that sow them. Consider unplugging from social media for a week. Get your news from reliable, well-documented, science-based sources.

Stay in contact with family and friends. Maybe you don’t feel safe going out to a bar or restaurant together. Yet you can call, text or Facetime. Make a list of a few people you haven’t spoken with in a while—and talk to them.

Distract yourself. During a family crisis years ago, I came to love crossword puzzles. They’re not taxing, but require just enough mental effort to keep you from thinking about your problems. I also recommend a stack of good books.

Don’t neglect your physical condition. Go out into the fresh air. Exercise, even if it’s only taking a walk around the block. Eat well. Get eight hours of sleep. A healthy body makes it easier to maintain a healthy mind.

Reprogram your thoughts. The Anxiety and Depression Society of America recommends you recast a negative thought such as “I am stuck inside” as “I can finally focus on my home and myself.”

Along those lines, discipline yourself to practice gratitude. Instead of fretting over how you’re going to survive financially, thank God he’s provided for you this far, and express your trust that he’ll take care of you from here on out. Thank the Lord you have a home to be cooped up in. Many people don’t.

Vow to do one productive thing a day. Clean out the refrigerator. Tidy the den. Finish that report.

Create a new routine. In March, when I could no longer go out every morning for my premium coffee and a restaurant breakfast, I started cooking my own breakfast. It’s saved me money and become a comforting ritual. I look forward to it.

Try not to make assumptions about people who react to the pandemic differently than you. That lady at the store who’s not wearing a mask might have asthma and be unable to wear one. That guy wearing a mask might not be ruled by fear; he might be signaling his concern for the vulnerable.

Help someone. This has the dual benefit of alleviating their needs and taking your mind off your own troubles. Leave a fresh-baked loaf of bread on a neighbor’s stoop. Call a shut-in and see if you can run errands for her.

Improve your spiritual life. If you’re locked down or laid off, see it as an opportunity to grow. Pray. Meditate. Study your Bible. Listen to Gregorian chants. Quiet your mind. Go with God.

Take the long view. Remind yourself that this too shall pass. Even pandemics don’t last forever.

Give yourself grace. If you have a bad day, that’s OK and to be expected. Make tomorrow better. And offer grace to those around you. They’re struggling, too.

If none of these things helps, contact a mental health professional. You may need counseling. No shame in that. Do what you need to do so you can do what you have to do.

Paul Prather is pastor of Bethesda Church near Mount Sterling. You can email him at pratpd@yahoo.com.

This story was originally published July 16, 2020 at 11:11 AM with the headline "Driven crazy by the coronavirus? Here are tips for restoring your sanity."