By Rebecca Aaron, LAPC, LAMFT
None of us has ever lived through a pandemic before; so we all find ourselves in uncharted territory figuring this out as we go along. I want to invite you to allow yourself to feel all the emotions that may be surfacing for you, even if (and especially if) they seem like they can’t necessarily coexist.
I hear people feeling anxious about the quarantine, helpless wishing there was more that could be done, joyful perhaps for new flowers or a slower pace of life, sad for the loss of plans, milestones or health, thankful for a way to continue to earn income, scared over the uncertainty of these times, frustrated over any number of things, optimistic for our society uniting to combat this virus, and about one million more emotions. I want to invite you to give yourself permission to non-judgmentally feel each and every one of them.
Give yourself a chunk of time to notice, name and feel the emotions and then release them. Try visualizing each feeling as a leaf floating down a stream. All of these emotions are totally valid. There is not a “right or wrong” emotion to experience during this time. For instance, it is ok not to want to be productive 100% of the time and not feel like “making the most of this”; and it is ok to lean into this time and make meaning in it. Most importantly, it is ok to oscillate between the two (and many other feelings) throughout the day! Encourage yourself that your feelings are valid and all you have to focus on is this current moment. Breathe deeply, give yourself a hug and continue your day.
It may seem like a small act at first, but pausing to name what you’re feeling frees you to process it and then release it when you’re ready. If you would like to practice this with someone, or process the pandemic or something else with someone (because we all know life is still going on!) consider reaching out to any of us at the Atlanta Counseling Center. We are here to support you.
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Rebecca is a staff therapist with Atlanta Counseling Center who specializes in working with couples and individual adults. Learn more about her services here.
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