if you’re signed up to get the free daily emails, then you’ve seen some of the extra sober support bits i’ve been sending out. here are a few of the recent messages.
small notes about the corona virus (and other things) #3
stay here, in the present, no catastrophizing. your head will tend to run head and wonder about later — what if this, what if that. anticipatory anxiety at its finest. for now, you’re doing today. you do reasonable things, like you get some groceries. you don’t have to stop and make 10 meals for the freezer. and you don’t have to decide today about things happening next week. you can stay put, snuggle in, and worry about this one day right here 🙂 we live in the present. we take actions in the NOW. (but also, our wolfie head likes to think “what if i’m stuck with my husband for days and …” And the answer is “thanks wolfie, i’ll deal with that later. i’m staying here. i’m doing today. and i’m not drinking today.”
small notes about the corona virus (and other things) #5
you’re going to need to set aside time to take care of you. yes, i know you’re taking care of so many other things right now, but YOU are an important ingredient in all of this.
if you’re crammed in familial spaces, you’ll need alone time (in the backyard, in the bedroom with the door closed). even if it’s half an hour.
if you’re alone and feeling disconnected, then you’ll turn on the radio to satellite music (the ’80s preferably, or the DMB station), and you’ll log into your favourite online resources, and you’ll listen to audio books, and podcasts. you’ll facetime your friends.
whatever it is that you need, arrange to get some of it. you’ll have to ask for it, though. no one is coming into your house and saying, “Right! Where’s Emma? Time out for you, 15 minutes, upstairs, now!” Instead, Emma herself is saying “you know, i need half an hour of alone time so i’ll set the timer, and then you can visit with me after the timer goes off.”
and then you do what you need to do.
~
are you going to email me and say “but i’m not married, but i’m not alone, but my name isn’t emma?”
you are going to insert the words that work best for you 🙂 even when you’re worried, you will apply flexibility, empathy, and kindness to all things 😉